Disaster Waiting To Happen and OMG! Do We All Need a Life Alert Device?

First let me start with this Disaster Waiting to Happen.  We have a crepe myrtle in our front yard and I wanted it trimmed to the top of the first floor ~ it would make it more attractive. So, I pulled out the ladder and tree clippers and failed.  The ladder wasn't tall enough and quite frankly, I felt it wasn't really safe, so I called it quits and planned to get the yard guys (a professional landscaping crew) to do the job.

I get home from taking Mom to her hair appointment and Amy asks me if I noticed anything in the front yard.  Hmmm, not really.  And then she told me that SHE HAD TRIMMED THE CREPE MYRTLE!!!!!! And that the guy installing screens had assisted her.  OMG, she is the one who has just recovered from the ACL tear!!!!!!!!!

Thank goodness no crepe murder!

Then Amy tells me that Nancy "fell down her basement stairs and was taken by helicopter to shock trauma"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What??????? Here is what happened:

Tuesday night, I was jogging up the basement staircase in an effort to get to my Sleepy Hollow recording.  I stumbled, grabbed for the railing (missed) and went head over heel down the stairs.  In no particular order, I knocked my diamond out of my ring, broke two nails below the quick, hit my shoulder and cheeks (not my face, mind you) on the way down before landing and finally whacking my head on the floor.  I kept telling Drew I was fine as I lay in a pile until he noticed the pool of blood spreading out from my head.  The ambulance arrived and took me to Bowie because our local hospital units were shut down due to malware.  The doctor took a look at my head and insisted I go to a trauma unit for CAT scans.  Again, because of the malware, the closest unit was in Baltimore and they chose to freaking fly me by helicopter.  I argued the entire time, having just seen on the news the enormous bills that patients receive for such transportation.  I was ignored, maybe because I couldn't tell them the day or year.

To sum it up:  I am fine.  The back and top of my head is a mixture of staples and stitches, which are still leaking and tinting my hair a peculiar shade of copper.   The CAT scans, yes two, were clear of damage from the fall, but did show what one doctor alternating referred to as a "lesion or calcium deposit" and fibroids.  But, since neither were a result of the trauma they "weren't interested" and suggested I see my own doctor.  Also, a number of nurses used me as a human pin cushion and my arms and top of my hands are black and blue.  I look ghastly, but luckily have enough in my refrigerator and freezer to avoid going in public at least for a few days.

I'm estimating the bill will be somewhere in the $30,000 plus range. 

Love,

Nancy

P.S.-Drew, who hates the sight of blood, was a trooper and cleaned up the mess.  He did, however, draw the line at our normal nightly cuddle because he said he "knew it would be uncomfortable" for me.  It had nothingto do with the bloody leakage.....

OMG!!!!!  

Nancy says she is fine, she was clear and upbeat while I talked to her.  She said her head still hurt, she had a headache and she felt like she had been run over by a truck.  No kidding!!!!!  OMG, I am horrified!!!!!  And, why did Nancy tell Amy and not ME?  And, did you notice that Nancy fell on Tuesday and she e-mailed Amy on Thursday.  Hmmmmmmm.

Amy says she is jealouse because she got to ride in the Shock Trauma helicopter.  

Everyone, please be careful!!!!!! We are getting older and we need to avoid falling!!!!!!!!!

Love, Leslie

Wahoo Wa!!

Well, part of my brackets are working out.  The ACC is doing well ~ I am now cheering for the conference, which is good sportsmanship for my team lost.  BUT, my ALL ACC bracket is hanging in there on the East and Midwest side.

Drew is estatic and the Wahoo Wa is a direct quote!  Go Virginia!!!!!

Here is our newest family picture:

A brief respite for Melanie and Bennett.  Usually the puppy is trying to drive them crazy in their golden years.  

"I am too old for this."

Enjoy your day!
Love, Leslie

PS ~ the Mom front is currently reexperiencing the Cold War.  She is channeling her inner Russian dictators.  She used to want to go on a cruise.  I wonder if it is too late to send her.

Basketball Overload

I have watched alot of basketball!  Amy had a basketball and cookie coma yesterday.  How are your brackets?  Here is one of my three:

My only ACC team that choked early is Pitt.  Yes I am a homer and proud of it.  

Mom got me up at 6:45am today ~ the alarm gadget that Amy got her really works!  Mom SAID that she had actually gotten on the floor at 1am, but wanted me to have a good night's sleep, so she waited to sound the alarm. Since I touched her skin and it was warm to the touch, I cried foul.  Which didn't make Mom happy at all.  

I guess the next step is to have her call me when she gets up to go to the bathroom ~ which would be ok.  Then I could make sure she gets in bed, which is the problem.  

I believe that is what we are going to do.  That is a plan.  I would rather that than her be on the floor.  BECAUSE, Amy is going to be in DC for work in April, and I really don't want to call 911 to help pick Mom up.  That is more excitement than I really want.

The puppy is now wearing a blue harness and the next step is a leash.  Let me just say, "HE HATES IT!"  It currently is his version of torture.

I love this picture.  Loki tries so hard to be as one with the labs.

Melanie has taken on the role of mother and disciplinarian.  The puppy doesn't even blink when we say No, but when Melanie growls or barks, he immediately backs off or drops.

We did have another crime scene ~ I came downstairs and there was blood splatter all over the outside door!  I immediately went to Amy because the puppy drew blood when he bit Amy on the nose and I thought Amy was bleeding again.  It was news to Amy, because she had no blood.  It was Bennett again!  Every once in a while, Bennett wags his tail so hard, the tip splits when he hits the wall.  I know, horrible, but funny when I went to Amy to check on her.  Cleaning it was a pain ~ from the door all the way up the stairs.  I wrapped his tip of the tail with gauze and duct tape.  But the puppy ripped it off.  I hope no one comes over with luminol.

Time to get in the shower before the puppy wakes up.  I am puppy sitting and I have to try and stay one step ahead of him.  

Love,
Leslie


PS ~ Opening Days are April 3 and 4th.  Be still my heart ~ Play Ball!

Mom Update

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  A nice trip down memory lane takes me to several beautiful St. Patrick's Days spent in Savannah ~ with 350,000 drunk people.  I always had a good time - can't remember some of it, but it was always fun!  Erin Go Braugh!!!!

Mom is much better.  She ate her first full dinner in a month!  On the down side this morning, mom wanted me to meet Mrs. Frazier who had been chatting with her, before I gave Mom her pills.  

Oh, Mrs. Frazier wasn't there in case you wondered.

The puppy is doing well - Melanie is "mothering" the puppy and when the puppy drifts over to visit Bennett, Melanie will bark at the puppy and he goes running back to Melanie. Melanie also lets the pup know when enough is enough.

I know this picture is a bit dark (alot dark!)  but here is the puppy, draped over Melanie with his alligator, with Snoopy trying to instigate something with Melanie.  We live in a doggy day care.

This week, while Lori is in Hilton Head, I am taking her job at her father-in-law's office.  I answer the phones and generally man the office so he can run errands, etc.  Very low key, but I enjoy it. 

Erin Go Braugh, ya'll!
Love, Leslie

PS ~ I have done my brackets for the NCAA basketball tournament.  I have "My All ACC" bracket, my "What I Would Like To Happen" bracket, and "What I Think Will Really Happen" bracket.  Strangely enough, Duke wins in three of them and, horrors, UNC wins in one.  May the best team win, as long as it is not Kansas, Kentucky or Michigan.

Cheering for Virginia

In the championship game for the ACC Tournament, we all cheered for Virginia (since Duke had already gone home).
But none cheered louder than Drew at the game in DC:

Please note the embroidered Virginia Cavalier logo on the khaki pants. YOU LOOK FABULOUS, DREW!!!!!!! 

Love, Leslie

Check Out Jake's Summer Coat

Jake has a "soundness" test next week to see if he has recovered from his injury.  But first, he was clipped to his summer coat (because it has been HOT here!)

Here he is with a partial clip.

And, voila, here he is in all his Summer Glory.

And, don't freak out......but Mom is actually sitting at the table in the kitchen, EATING her dinner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This is major!!!!!! Hopefully we can continue this trend!!!!!!

I took this picture this morning:  check out the cherry blossoms blooming in the background!

So, enjoy this beautiful early Spring day and daylight savings time that starts tonight!  One more day closer to summer!!!!!!!!!

Love, Leslie

Successful Report!

Mom is so much better!  Yesterday she even went to her hair appointment that she had refused to go to for 3 weeks!   And today at the doctor, he agrees that her arm is much better!  Although, now he wants her to elevate her legs at night!  One more thing to annoy her!!!!! But, lotion free is the way to be!  She will only use vaseline from now on.

We are doing movie night tonight ~ the candy and popcorn are here, the chinese food will be delivered ~ I believe it is the new James Bond for our viewing pleasure. 

Here is a great picture that I took yesterday:

Wha'ts not to love!!!!!!

~Leslie

Mom is Better

Mom may not feel better, but her arm looks better.  I am following the regime of no lotions, just vaseline ~ and the arm is less swollen, less red.
Mom is not loving the antibiotics but she is hanging in there, maintaining her diva persona. When that goes, I might start to worry.

I am giving her sherbet and have discovered that Kroger makes the best rainbow sherbet ever!  Love it!

I also moved her computer to the other side of her bed, next to her window ~ which allowed me to move Mom and her chair close to the bathroom.  I am hoping that she will have less falls....she didn't fall last night, so success!  However, she doesn't like to sleep on that side of the bed, so I remain the bad guy.  You know, if I was a real bad guy, I wouldn't care.

The puppy has grown some and delights in hanging over the big dogs, barking at them and running wild around the yard and house.

It has jumped to a glorious early Spring, 75 yesterday, and 70's the rest of the week.  I really want to get the garden started, but I know to wait.  However, I am going to trim the crepe myrtle (no murder) and trim the butterfly bushes and transfer two of them.  That is enough for today.

The washer machine repair guy is here.  It quit full of water on Saturday.  And of course, I start thinking the worse - we will have to get a new one.  BUT, the guy fixed it and the problem was that one of mom's bra extenders got caught up and jammed it up.  So I now have to remove them before washing.  That is doable.

A reminder to all:  Spring your clocks ahead one hour Saturday night!

Enjoy the nice weather!
Love,
Leslie

Mom, Medicine, Mystery

I got Mom to her doctor yesterday.  He was concerned over this cellulitis (as he calls it) so he re-ordered her anitbiotic (that she can take, it does upset her stomach, but no other allergy concerns).  
Amy talked to Dr. Carolyn and she had just had a case like this in Texas - a patient with cellullitis that a course of antibiotics did not solve.  Carolyn believes her patient had contact dermatitis and her staff doctor agreed ~ which does make sense.  Carolyn said to only use vaseline as a lotion on the skin - to take away all her other lotions.  So, we are going to try it.
I got a bunch of cute short sleeved t-shirts in a big size for her to wear, so they are long and easy on and off.  After all, what is more comfortable that a t-shirt?
I just fixed her breakfast - iced coffee (in the morning), ciabatta roll toasted with a little cream cheese and fig jam. Then toast and ginger ale and yogurt until she is done with the antibiotic.
So, we will see what happens with mom.  I will let you know.

Love, Leslie

PS ~ Duke plays North Carolina today and Lori says we all have to wear Duke Blue.  Time to get dressed and follow the dress code.

Changes

The puppy, Cupid, has a new name ~ Loki.  Amy was having trouble with saying it AND there was a general consensus that it was too close to stupid.  So, Loki it is and it fits.  The mischief maker.

Loki is 10 weeks old and had learned that if he goes under the deck, where it is dark, Amy can't get to him easily and she clocks herself in the head.  So, Amy went to Home Depot and I helped her set it up.  

We staple gunned the bamboo up and boy does it help!

Loki is fascinated with the hose and will probably pop it.  It doesn't bother me, so I am a bad Aunt.

Notice the grip Loki has on Bennett, who is suprisingly ok with it.  We'll see.

I am taking Mom back to the doctor today, her hand is swollen again ~ the appointment is at 11 am so I will make her unhappy getting her up early.  But going to the doctor will make her really happy, so maybe they will cancel each other out.

Congratulations to Zoe who got the Presiden't Scholar Award ($20,000.00 a year if she kept a 3.0 average) at Ithaca College - but she is going to NYU, who gave her nothing.  

Got to get Mom up, love to all!
~Leslie