Family Medical Situation and trying to keep busy

Monday morning didn't start out very well for our family. My mom's new husband, Lyle, texted me that he had brought her into the emergency room. She hadn't been feeling good for a couple days and he finally decided it was time to get her in. She's been seeing a doctor for some pain in her hip and possible spinal stenosis. But this was much different and much more serious.

My newlywed parents Mom and Lyle on their visit here in August

It turns out she has congestive heart disease with her diastolic portion of her heart not pumping properly. The fluids backed up in her system from edema were swelling her up so much that she was extremely uncomfortable. She also has undetermined internal bleeding and very anemic. The doctors say she is VERY lucky she got in when she did. They took one look at her in the ER and admitted her immediately to the cardiac department at the large Shands Hospital in Gainesville Florida.

I can tell you, being 1,500 miles away is soooo painful!  I want to be there. I want to be holding her hand. I want to be soothing the worry from her forehead. I want to make her smile. I want to touch her. I want to be strong for her.

She is trying to keep up a good attitude and do what is told of her and follow the directions of the doctors and nurses.  We have all been in contact with her and trying not to bother her too much so the team of doctors can do their jobs. She is in good hands and prayers are appreciated.

I am thankful for the ease of communication with the network of family that we have nowadays. Between texting, cell phones, messages, and sharing information from the doctors, we can all keep in touch. They even have a password that the family members need to have in order to connect with the nurses station to get information.

Tomorrow are more tests and hopefully some results and answers!

My sister Linda, Mom and myself

While waiting in between updates, 

of course I'm waiting on pins and needles.

Butch, Umpee, Mom, me and Linda

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We are trying to keep busy..... 

Steve noticed some beautiful cement planters and pedestals on the local Facebook buy sell trade page. The price was extremely reasonable, $40 for all. I have found pedestals like these online for well over $100 each, and the large planter urns in the $70 to $90 range each.

Did I really need them? Not really. But I think I'm going to put them on each side of the garage door next spring. The current plant stands I have now are quite lightweight plastic pots on metal frames, and blow over on windy days.

These pedestals probably weigh in the 50 to 60 pound range and Steve really had to ooomph to get them loaded up into the car. The pots probably are in the 30 pound range, and I could barely lift one to help.

Steve took out the pressure washer and gave them a good cleaning this morning before he went to work.  That pressure washer sure gets a workout around here, doesn't it?

By mid-afternoon they were dry enough to start painting. I hauled out my bucket of primer/paint blend and my brush and my gloves. I really enjoyed transforming them with a shining white new coating.  Even though I am not going to use them until Spring, it was fun to get them cleaned up.

Steve did all the heavy lifting to put them up on the sawhorses...

and then he relaxed in the lawn chair while I painted and he took these pics! 

It was amazing how intricate the cement work is on the pedestals. There are actual pieces of fruit that seem to be cemented onto the base feet. The intricate work in close detail of the entire pedestal is really amazing. I have no idea how they can make them this unique and intricate. They are all of heavy heavy cast cement but a smooth surface.

Tah Dah!!!

Seeing as I had the paint out, Steve started finding other projects for me to do! Pretty soon I was painting the window sills of the garage that had been flaking. He did the grinding and I did the painting.

Then he pulled up a couple of the storm windows that need to go on our basement windows on the house. He repaired some of the loose glazing, and I painted those too. Of course, next he found a couple window screens from the basement that needed to be painted as well.

Did I mention that Steve hates painting?

He is also adapting my little rolling bench that is secured underneath my table loom.  The two sections of wood that he is planning for that project also needed a coat of white paint. Finally, after about an hour and a half of painting, I was able to wash out my brush and say I was done for the day!

But it was a good way to keep me occupied...


I also started weaving another towel on my table loom... this is an 8 harness pattern in a fractured twill weave pattern.  I am really liking it, and it appears to look like little pine trees!

I've got one of my rug looms ready to start a new batch. My Loom Room is so sun-shiny and pretty to hang out in.  Some days I can not believe I have such a nice place, with the sunshine coming in through the leaded glass windows and making rainbows all over the floor.  It's a great retreat to hide away, turn on the celtic music and lose myself in my weaving.  Especially when times are trying and my mind is full of worry. 

Oh, one more thing:

If you remember, a few blogs back I posted that weeks ago I entered a contest at the Twin Turtle Quilt Shop down in Clinton Wisconsin near Beloit. I had reported two blogs ago that I had won!

http://www.twinturtlequilts.com/

Teresa, the owner of the shop, helped me "long-distance-shop" to pick out some fabrics to use up my gift certificate. She took photos and sent them to me so I could approve of the color combinations that she was picking out for me. I got three panels of this adorable coffee themed print fabric. I will cut them all apart into little 4" squares and then build around each one with a log cabin theme. She picked out beautiful coordinating Fabrics that will go along with the panels.

I will construct the blocks somewhat like this idea....   put the coffee square in the middle and build the log cabin blocks with lights on 2 sides and darks on the other 2 sides.  I think it will make a great quilt to curl up in and sip a cup of coffee!

What a great service to do it all long distance and then ship it out in the mail to me. The package arrived today and it was absolutely beautiful! I cannot wait to get started.

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Newest update on Mom, she is well stabilized and comfortable and getting better.  Some changes will have to be made in her lifestyle and she will need to watch this condition closely.  She is only 78 and has a lot of life ahead of her!

We hope to get some more answers from future tests being done tomorrow, and see where we go from here.  For now, I am NOT frantically flying down there or trying to get connections and air fare and car rentals etc.  Instead, I am staying put with my laptop, tablet, cell phone and knowing that my Mom is in good hands.  Here I am in her good hands.

I love you, Mommy! 

.