Best/Worse/What did I learn today?chat with friends new/old

Oh my!! When are you heading to Florida, Betty?

Well, I am once again sitting at the Atrium hospital with Bill. He has had a hernia in his belly button for about two years. It has bothered him little in the past. However, yesterday it popped out and he couldn't get it back in. It was also very painful. He put off going to the ER cause he thought the pain would subside. It didn't. So we came to the ER at 10:00 last night. After blood work and a CT scan, they discovered that it was not life threatening and the surgeon said if he wanted to be admitted he would go ahead and repair it today. That was at 1:00 am today. Since the other option was to go to his office on Tuesday and be operated on Wednesday (the day before Thanksgiving) we decided to go with today. So I went home shortly after 1:00 and left him in the ER since they said he'd be going to a room shortly. Well, he didn't get to a room until 4:00. Then his stupid IV alarm kept coming on. He got very little sleep. They took him to surgery at 2:00 this afternoon. It lasted about 40 minutes and everything went well. The only restriction he'll have is no heavy lifting for a month. The Doc said he could go home or not, so Bill opted to stay another night. He's in quite a bit of post op pain. He hasn't had anything to eat since 3:00 yesterday. I just ordered his dinner for him and he's asking for some coffee. So here's hoping this is the last trip here for surgery forever!!!

Joyce, not so sure if I do that I will be driving

Rita due to a lot of house expenses has used up her budget

I wouldn't drive alones, would mean flying so I'll have to see

Hate paying the outrageous $$$ nto fly because it's Xmas

In some ways I think how nice it would be to stay home and just enjou

Well, it's your decision!! Of course the temps are a little better south at this time of year....USUALLY!

Oh my Joyce, that must have been a worry..great news though that it now behind him/you and all that remains is the healing. Will you be having the family this week? He has been good at listening to doctors orders right

Kids keep asking me what I'm doing, no idea

Sometimes ithink about the $$$ and could get new living room furniture, paint the room and modernize it a it a bit

Big yawn, will go downstairs and shut everything down, have hot bath and call it a night

Drats used up all my hot chocolate, so would like one

Yes, he obeys.

No, We'll be going to DD Lisa's house. I'm taking mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn (from our garden) and some candy. Probably caramels, toffee, brittle and maybe fudge. I'll see how much I get finished!

Yum, I have a new Winter favorite. Hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps!

I smash up candy canes, add a tsp to hot chocolate with cream on top

Then I wonder why I am not thin. Lol

Marilyn - Alice is VERY involved with the good people at Cancer Care Manitoba - she's one of their spokepeople (did some "$$ matching" fundraising through the Royal Bank) and they just love her!

I'm including a picture of her (about 5 years ago) when she was awarded for getting $500 from the Royal Bank.... she's in the lovely orange outfit

Beautiful looking woman Susan

Am glad she has financial support re meds

We are back home. My aunts daughter came from Grand Rapids and is staying with her mom for two weeks until after the memorial. I have a lot to do to get ready for our turkey day and I was in the middle of a couple projects in the sewing room.
Aunt/sister/best friend is holding up very well. She knew uncle was suffering for a very long time and is content to have him at peace.
Drive both ways was pretty yucky. Temps warming up so foggy and hard rain. Very tired.

Glad you are home safe and sound. Am sure she appreciated having you by her side.
One never knows how their day will go.

I've been up most of the night, dreams
Been watching a great Christmas movie
When it's over I'll get up and start an early day
Raining hard here

I sure hope you got some sleep Betty! Maybe a nap today?

Off to San Antonio for some fabric shopping, and to see my arthritis Dr. for a follow up. I will be back tomorrow.

Lovely pic of Alice, Susan ..
I take it she knows all the 'ins and outs' of accessing financial aid through Cancer Care Manitoba. Sure hope they step up to the plate for her.

Karen, good to hear you made it home .. if the weather is anything like ours, well, it isn't nice .. we have had freezing rain overnight, and, the snow is now falling .. nobody in this house will be going anywhere today !

Joyce .. your hubby must be a hurtin unit .. poor guy .. but, all behind him now .. I wish him (you too) all the best ..

Betty .. dreams must be the order of the day (night) .. dreamt I bought a brand new Austin Mini .. bright YELLOW no less.. and, a standard .. 5 speed .. we had an orange one back in the 80s ... what a BLAST to drive ..
Not a fan of hot chocolate .. some of the mixes are so sweet ..

Good luck with your trip Linda .. is San Antonio far from you ?

Best get a cuppa .. I think it's going to be a baking day ..

TOODLES

~M~

San Antonio is a 3 hour drive. It can be made in about 2 & 1/2 if the traffic co-operates, but not usually.

"M", how is your rash doing? I hope it is letting up some for you.

Happy Birthday to Thea! I hope your lurking, and doing well!

Still in the 40's here thank goodness. Not raining at the moment, so we'll see what gets thrown at us next.

No nap, actually waiting for a plumbing company to come

I ran in to town and purchased


the "sump buddy" I was told about then started calling plumbers to install
Happy birthday Thea..wonder how she is doing..think Dianne and/or barb might keep in contact with her.

Drive safely Lindakay..fabric shopping makes up for the doctor's appt.

With all the snow melting and rain all night it's just pouring in the contained sump pump area and it concerns me should pump fail to work..notice my beautiful frame I had in my main garden is on the ground, we must have had high winds as well

Don't want the same mess

So Greg refers me to a plumbing company he uses for his firm, gentleman very knowledgeable, says he has heard of the sump buddy but what concerns him is if something went wrong with the pump because it's hooked directly to the one, all the municipal water would be in my basement

Not up to having that happen

Called Greg and he thought maybe a new sump pump, new battery for the backup might be my best choice

Might see if there could be room for the older sump pump to stay in, double back up
So now I wait for the plumber to come. Grrr


Aren't I a complainer

Morning all!
Wow ... counting my blessings here, and sending my hugs to all. Feeling very blessed indeed.

Hugs Dianne to you and the furbabies and prayers for the loss of your friend.

Prayers to you, Karen. Sorry for your loss.

Joyce, hope your hubby has a fast recoup.

Betty, so sorry for all your woes.

Prayers for you, Katy. Glad you'll be home for Christmas.

Thea, happy birthday. I still enjoy all my beautiful presents from my box and think of you often.

Linda, you must like to shop like Betty. LOL How's that sweet grandbaby. Well, he's certainly not a baby anymore! So glad you got to have such a nice visit with your Dad.

Okay, I am so sorry I've left out some of you but the old brain ... you know. LOL Y'all have a blessed day!

Well after my terrible horrible no good very bad week ( loved the book although it was a day not a week) it is a nice mild day here. My wood is HERE!!!! I am so happy.

Susan are you frozen up like a popscicle? I saw a pic of a frozen fountain and thought of you.

Sump pump all fixed Betty?

Would love to comment more but I am still on my phone. What a pain!!!

Waving to all. I think of you everyday. Sure hope my laptop is ready early this week. I need my own personal computer geek.

Dianne

Nice to see both you Susan and Dianne posting

Do hope you know when you go missing I do as well as others fret!

Great news about the wood Dianne..now do you have to stack it yourself, hoping not
Feel out of sorts when you don't have the computer working don't you
Did diesel get to the vets?

Susan, is the weather back to normal temps for this time of year?

Almost all fixed up, young man that came thought I was going a little overkill when he wanted to replace existing water pump (not sure why it didn't work last week) and I wanted to leave the older one that is working now in and add another sump pump..overboard I say? You weren't here when I had to clean up 7" of water..so he reorganized and managed to put the 2nd one

Tried fixing the battery auxiliary one, very corroded, finished so went back to the shop to have boss call me..$295 for unit and $175 for battery and with work done today likely bill will be between $1,000-$1,200

Worth it if I don't have to worry

Stained Pail's sign, base coated the front and now ready to paint his house on it..enjoy panting homes, less cartoonish than one would think

Just had hot bath, eating lunch a d might try to nap

Hey Dianne .. :-)
Good to see you posting, be careful with the wood ..

Betty, that's quite the 'CHACHING' for your pump situation ..
Hopefully you won't have to worry anymore .. seems our weather is getting damper/wetter by the year ..

Did do some baking .. banana loaf, pumpkin pie and sugar cookies ..
We're having quite the dilemma with our senior pusser, Smokey, his right ear is full of wax (we think) he isn't happy with us putting warm mineral oil in it to help soften it .. if it doesn't work, we'll be off to the vet I guess ..

Waiting for 6pm .. my brother is going to be interviewed boy a local news station (CBC1)'The city is 'trying' to EVICT home owners along a stretch of Lake Superior .. my brother and his wife and family (all kids married and gone), have lived there for close to 60 years !!
Doubtless the City has a buyer for the land and they want the 14 year round home owners GONE!!!
Quite the bone of contention ..

Best go get supper on the go .. DH made chili :-)

TTFN

~M~

You might remember my saying last Thursday night that Rita came to sew but Janice didn't, she was in USA shopping for 5 days with her hubby as an anniversary getaway

She just emailed me and said to go on utube and type in

snow-stranded motorists seek shelter in Wal-Mart

It's the 1st clip I believe
Even though she  was stranded she was cooking for those stranded with her

She said 'some talk more than others
And boy is she a grabber, nicer gal you would not meet

She will come over Wednesday night so she can get as far as Rita in her project

I'm sure I'll hear lots of tales

"M" that's horrible, what on earth do they need that land for
Can they make them leave?? Mhoping they beat the system but it's hard

Drats the wind is so high here right now, wouldn't doubt trees go down
Sure hope electricity doesn't go down or I will be in trouble

wow was i gone that long ?
Dianne so sorry to hear of your loss , suicide is not easy for those left behind.
Cookie glad Bill is doing better.
Betty love the projects your doing. Yikes on the snow stranded walmart people
M can you send some of that yummy bread my way please. love banana bread and pie.
That is awful they want the people to move out of their homes. hope it all works out. Hope they can stay in there homes.
very cold here today. woke up to 60 and then it hit 43 by noon with gust of wind up to 40mph dropping temps down to mid 30's and boy that wind was cold BRRRRRRR.

Time seems to be slipping away so quickly inspite of the best of list and planning!!! Been busy running around with Kim...doc appointments, new glasses, and other assorted things that she can take care of during the week when she is teaching. Fun but oh so tiring.

Things are ready to be cooked for Thursday with my son and his family; big football game coming up on Saturday and busy getting furniture arranged in the living room to accommodate a new entertainment cabinet. I had never reconnected the stereo system I moved from Gainesville but I finally got up one morning and realized I was truly missing my music. Needless to say all the equipment was antiquated so purchased new..yikes how much smaller things are and everything wireless now. Next week it will all be installed and I will be one happy person dancing around for days to come. This is mine and Kim's Christmas gift to each other. Yes, she will have a few small things wrapped (she never gets to old to want a wrapped present) but we both did agree this would be better than anything we could think of doing.

Been raining since Saturday and looks as though it will continue for a couple of more days. Nope not a complaint as we really do need the rain. Just wish I had less to do so I could curl up with a good book and enjoy this weather.

Betty and M do you still have a roof? The winds kept us all up last nigbt. The boys and kits were beside themselves. I really got lucky. A tree came down on tbe lake side . The wbole jouse shook and with good reason. I don't know how no windows were blown out. If I had put in the new deck that I wanted to last summer it would have been smashed to bits.

Betty the wood still has to be cut and split - all 8 bush cordz of it.

Hope none of you will have your T plans interrupted by this pending storm
I want some turkey.
D

OMG Dianne, did so have the same storm..some damage on the property, nothing I can't deal with, getting to be 'queen of dealing' lol

my worry was if a tree went down on our electric grid and I'd have no hydro I'd not have been able to keep up with the incoming water.

went to town this morning and brought that system back that the plumber didn't want to use, had to dodge downed trees so mega community clearing.

please tell me you have someone who will be splitting and stacking your 3 cords

Time is in 'speed' mode Marion, new music system ..what a fantastic duo gift..best get something you will be enjoy than just getting a gift for the sake of getting a gift.

Won't be around much, got some bad news re DH< Gord, today
He has Multiple Myeloma, a type of blood cancer .. have been told it is treatable with stem cell transplant but.. lots of testing to go through before that happens ..
Kinda just feel like someone punched me in the belly, then stomped on me for the heck of it !
Gord figures 'ignorance is bliss' .. I wish I was that lucky !!

~M~

Omg "M" my heart goes out to Gord, you and your family!
Just feel sick in my tummy
Praying they can get things started ASAP

Please drop in when you can, don't have to respnd to all our chatter but keep us updated.

"M", I am so sorry to hear that! I will keep you all in our prayers!

So sorry to hear about Gord, "M". Pray that they can get treatment started right away.

Deb

Thanking everyone in advance for thoughts and prayers .. it is so appreciated and, I know I can always depend on you all, and, that feels good ..

Suffice to say all this news is still in the 'sinking in phase', Gord is still in town as he dropped his truck off prior to his apt .. so .. he's still waiting for it to be released .. how much can they do to a 2014 truck !!!
After that he has to go and have a few blood tests then home, and, I PRAY I don't start to cry, AGAIN !!
Life can sure change in a heart beat!

~M~

Hang in there "M". You have all of our shoulders to cry on, and lean on for support!

Sending thoughts and prayers for M and Gord. And for Dianne, dealing with the suicide of a friend.

And for everyone else, of course.

I am settled in a motel room with a kitchenette until Dec 21, when my last radiation treatment is planned. If it's extended I'll be back to car camping but I'm nicely settled for now. It's expensive but worth it, I think.

I'm resting a lot, falling asleep by late afternoon, early evening and Waking up around 6 or 7 am.

I'm almost set up to do some sewing. And I just got online.

My room opens on a central courtyard with lots of plants, a pond, a swimming pool and hot tub.

With Christmas shopping kicking into full gear, I'm glad to be tucked away safely. I'll have to comute some for the radiation treatment but I'm OK with that. It's the only thing I have scheduled.

Workers here are really nice and so are the other residents I've seen. One couple has a little dog - I've seen them twice.

I look forward to getting home and hope it will be in time for Christmas but I'm taking a day at a time.

Cannot tell all of you how much I appreciate the love and support I get here.

hugs, katie

Drats, already in bed, back of head pounding like crazy, wrote a long post, didn't send, lost it. Grrrr

"M" please don't keep it in, not healthy, maybe when Gord comes Inc a big hug he will need, am sure he is trying to hide how frightened he is s well. Yes we are all here with you, perhaps it's a time to stay connected, reading of prayers/thoughts for both you and Gord and family. Friends here have pulled me through horrific times.

Oh Katie you made my day, I can picture you being comfy, feet up and likely spending time in the gardens..a weed here, a weed there. The health professionals know how important you are to the community so if it's within their means they will have you heading south of the border.

What did the doc say LindaKay?

Deb, hoping you post photo's of the puppies here, all can use a smile

Joyce, how is Bill? Running you ragged lol?

Guess a lot of you are having company arrive tomorrow

Karen, you ready?

((M)) I know exactly how anx what you are feeling. Please come to us when you start to feel overwhelmed. We will be there for you.
D

Oh "M" my heart goes out to you. I know how I felt when Norm was diagnosed and all I can say is that my prayers are with you all. It was not just Gord who got this diagnosis but you and Lorna as well. I've been through it three times now with Norm and it doesn't change. The pit in your stomach will lessen as he goes through his treatments. And once you have a schedule regarding them, you will feel like you are making some kind of progress. Be as kind as you can, be as gentle as you can and find something to do with your hands. I found myself wringing them all the time and it was driving me crazy. And I think it bothered Norm too. So that is when I went back to cross stitching. I could be with him and keep busy without him feeling oppressed by me being with him constantly. I think we actually grew closer through it all. And if I have one thing I can tell you it is to NOT shut yourself away. That will hurt Gord most of all if he thinks he has stopped you from being YOU. God bless you all.

Very well said Barb, know the shock as well
You are with aa group who most have gone through same, either themselves or hubby

No right or wrong in how you feel but our holding your hands will help!

Oh my "M" and Gord, and Katie.((((((Hugs))))). You will certainly all be in our thoughts. life sure throws some nasty curves at us at times.

No Betty no where near ready. We get our SS tomorrow so need to shop then do the cooking on Thurs, head down state on Fri. for our dinner on Sat. Only problem, I have that steam rollered feeling and been sleeping most of the day. I just have to be all better tomorrow.

Likely because of the loss of your dear Aunt Karen..things have also been overwhelming for you as well these past months, things have a way of getting done, you rest. Or you will not be going anywhere.