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.

~~~~~~~~

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! 

.

UPDATE on Mom-In-Law and CAMPING at Bayshore and JAMESON birthday party

We received good news via Pete by phone calls yesterday and an email last night:

Mom's fever was measured at 101.8 this evening.  White cell count is about half of one percent. Hemoglobin dropped from Friday to this evening. She has lost 15 pounds since the last measure, Mom attributes the weight loss to the sores in her mouth and throat, nausea and poor taste in her mouth.  Her Oxygen level is still good.  Morphine is helping a bit with the pain. Infection is identified in bladder and throat. She is coughing up phlem from her throat and with the help of morphine is getting some sleep. She is receiving IV fluids and antibiotics.


She is in isolation with no visitors until her white cell count goes up...   if she continues to improve, they might let her go home later this week if she regains strength.  We are all hoping and praying for her.  Thank you so much everyone for your kind words of support, your prayers and you well wishes.  I printed them off and put them in a card for her, so she knows so many of your good people care about her!

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We had a nice time camping Friday night at the campground here at Bayshore.  As the last 2 sites around us were taken, one by a nice couple from Sturgeon Bay in Door County, turns out they know Steve's brother and wife very well, and we also had some other folks in common too.

And on the other empty site, we watched a big 36-38ish ft motorhome pull up, and back in very skillfully into a difficult site across from us, slow and steady wins the race.  Not only was the site tilted side to side, but also front to back.  It was the only site left and they were determined to get in there.  Once they successfully maneuvered it in, as the driver got out, we complimented him on his backing-in finesse!   They had three cute little pomeranian doggers, that all yipped in unison in agreement with our words.  LOL  But they were good and quiet campground doggies after that.

Supper was a treat of Italian sausage, sweet corn and spiced rice... yummmmm

We put in our little pittance of $5 to the rangers for some firewood, for the tiny bundle ... (we forgot to take some from home)   and had a little campfire.  Large metal campfire rings here with a flat section with a cooking grid, but we think you would have to get the fire going first in the open area, then shovel the burning logs and coals back to under the grid to be able to cook on it.

We turned in early Friday night and got a good night's rest.  Saturday morning we awoke to rain rain and more rain.... (the weatherman said *scattered showers* ===  he lied)   He also said it was going to be very hot and muggy.   I was thinking about the nice outfit I had brought along to wear for Jameson's 2nd birthday party-- if it was going to be too hot, I would be sweating bullets.  On TV with morning coffee, I saw an ad for Kohls having a special sale that started at 7am!   It was 6:15 am and I decided to do a quick run 10 miles down the highway to see if they had anything I might like.  Steveio insisted on coming along too. Ack.  I hate shopping... and I hate it even more if I have a hovering husband, suggesting outlandish clothes or getting lost where I have to go looking for him!   He did BOTH of those things of course in the half hour we were in the store.  Didn't find a sun dress, but I found 2 nice lighter summer tops for sale and we headed back to the campground.  Through the pouring rain.  It was a high speed windshield wiper type rain, and we could barely see the road.  Scattered showers... yah ... right.... if you say so, Mr. Weatherman.


Now it was time to get out to Jesse's folks house in Rio Creek for the party.   By 10 am we were loaded up in the car with our 2 portacribs they were borrowing, 4 lawn chairs, 2 folding tables, a cooler with 2 big salads, video camera and birthday presents.   Wheeeeeeee   Guess what?  The rain stopped and held off for most of the outdoor party.

They had a blowup bouncy toy for the kids, plenty of food, and lots of babies to hand around.  

Grandma Lisa (Jesse's mom), with wee Scarlett and Jameson clinging to her.   

Granddaughter Allegra tries out her new shades from her goodie bag.

Jameson was insisting he was FIVE, not two. 

Jameson loved his Sesame Street cake, with Grover and Elmo flying in a plane

For some reason, our granddaughter Chelsea decided she didn't like her Uncle Dan...
but our granddaughter Allegra was thinking her daddy is just wonderful. 

Daddy Jesse entertained us on Jameson's new ukulele, while Grandpa Wade looked on with humor.

Our granddaughters, Allegra and Chelsea

Sassy boy Jameson is tossing pieces of bark into the flowing waters of this unique fountain... 

We waited for updates on Steve's mom so that kinda threw a damper on the celebration.   Pete called during the gift opening, just as Jameson was opening a present from his Great Grandma and Grandpa Pfundtner, what timing!   With good news that she was doing better, we were able to relax a bit more and smile and enjoy the little guy's party, which is what she wanted us to do.  She is in isolation so can not have visitors anyhow, they don't want to chance any more infections.  She wanted us to keep on camping and do the birthday party without her.

Oh, by the way, it was cold and damp at the party, I could have worn the original outfit I had planned on, and never had to go shopping for anything new afterall!

After the party was over, we cleaned up and packed the car, we headed back to our campground.

Back at the campground, we drove down the cliff drive to the water... to the bay waters of Green Bay.  

I snapped these quick outta the car window, so they are a bit crooked.

It's a popular fishing boat ramp, and there were trucks and trailers as far as the eye could see in the parking lot.  When our kids were little, they didn't like camping here.  There is really no beach or swimming area for kids, just the boat launches, rocks and piers to moor your boats at. 

Up at our campsite, we let out the dogs, asked the neighbors if they had barked (they hadn't).   When we do have to leave the dogs in the rig, we close the windows, turn up the volume on the tv and pull the shades so they do not notice anything from the outside. They just sleep and wait for us to come back.  We have set up the video camera from time to time to see what they do while we are gone, and it's a pretty boring film.   A yawn, a sip of water from the dog dish, and curled back up to snooze.  Good doggers.

We unpacked the lawnchairs from the car and got ready to make supper.  The wood was a bit wet for cooking outside, so inside the rig we cooked up some spaghetti dinner with garlic bread and a big salad for supper.  But we took it outside to eat at the picnic table.   NOW the clouds blow away and the sun comes out and it gets warmer.

After a nice walk around the park with the dogs, we stopped to chat with the neighbors.  They shared their campfire with us, and we brought over our soggy wood to add to their pile.  If you put one wet log in with 3 or 4 dry ones, they all burn about the same.

We sat up around the fire till almost 11 pm before turning in.  Things were quiet and comfortable, but cooling off a bit.  So we closed up the windows on the motorhome and that had kept the residual heat from the day inside. But about midnight I was feeling chilled.  Didn't want to get up and start the furnace which I knew would blast us out of the rig.  Then I remembered, we had electric hookups here!   So I just reached down outta bed, plugged in the cord for our electric mattress pad heater, and flicked on the controller on my side of the bed.  I was soon toasty warm and cozy for the night. Ahhh sometimes it's nice to be pampered camping with full hookups!    LOL

Woke up Sunday morning to sunshine, and sweet fresh air after opening all the windows and lovely birds singing.  It sure is good to be camping!   I baked up a tray of triple berry muffins....  (from a mix)

Since the mix makes a whole dozen, I brought some over to our neighbors as a *Thank You* for sharing their campfire last night.   

Now we are sitting out in our lawn chairs, updating this blog, sipping coffee, and watching all the other campers pack up and get ready to head out.  Checkout time is 3pm and I think we are staying till the last possible minute to enjoy the day. 

2nd post today- A change of plans and maybe change of plans again?

Well, we made it this afternoon out to the little campground at the airport in Rio Creek ... but there were only about 15-16 sites, most occupied.  We had called 2 weeks ago for reservations.  The owners had told us to park anywhere when we get there, but "anywhere" was all sloped and slanted or muddy and wet lowlands...   There was not a level spot to be gotten for any rig over 16' long.    The one possible spot would still have taken 6 boards per back tire (times four tires would be 24 planks!)   to get level enough to keep the fridge operating.  

Then to top it off, a neighboring farmer was spreading liquid manure (a hundred times worse than fresh manure)  on his fields and it was getting stronger and stronger by the minute.  That means all weekend having all the windows closed and having to run the generator 24/7 to keep it cool inside because of the closed windows!   No thank you.

So we switched gears and went over to Bayshore Campground about 16 miles away ...

Here is a post I did on it previously.  

http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/2009/10/bay-shore-county-park-brown-county.html

and here is their website:

Cecil Depeau Bay Shore Park, Brown County, WI

We were lucky to get a site, number 78,  as there were only 3 vacant sites when we got here.  It's first come first serve, no reservations allowed.   Lots of trees and well-shaded sites.  While we set up, 2 other campers came and snapped up the last two sites, all filled before 2pm on a friday.

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Once we got all set up ...  then we got a phone call that we have been dreading.

Steve's mom was brought to the ER tonight.  She has just completed her last chemo treatment for cancer this last week and has not been doing so well.  She is now dehydrated, running a fever and supposedly not taking the proper meds.   Pete, Steve's brother, will call us with more details as they find out.  They are 90 miles away from here, but we will take off in the car and go see what we can do if we are needed.  I suppose time on the IV will tell the tale, so it's just wait and see on pins and needles.

Sigh.