Watch Out For Treadmills!

Poor Jim, "Somehow" he tore cartiledge in his right ankle while on a treadmill.  And he has to wear a boot (like Amy's) for the next SIX weeks! 

The moral of the story, exercise and work can kill you.

Love,

Leslie

House Work

Wow, for the first time, we have two projects  getting ready to go at the same time.  The steps off the deck are GONE:

There used to be steps....

I wonder what the original steps were resting on.

There is always something ~ this house is 11 years old ~ I guess the deck was holding up the stairs.  Hmmm.

And, for the front door:

Two minor steps, but no railing.  I wonder if that is to code?  Anyway, Mom has great difficulty getting up the steps, so I called Artistic Ironworks and they came out the SAME DAY!!! So they are going to put in a wrought iron railing on both sides.  It will be very helpful.

So, I will take pictures so you can see the jobs as they go along.

On the Mom front, she told me she had a sore throat and that she had to see a doctor today. Never mind she had just seen her primary doctor two days ago!  I told Amy that I was going to take her to the Emergency Room and Amy said "No, go to Urgent Care".  Genius.

I made an appointment and got Mom to Urgent Care.  Don't forget, she goes to the Cardiologist tomorrow.  Anyway, she saw a Doctor who cultured her throat (which came back negative), told her jokes and give her pills, which totally made her day!  She asked him if he practised anywhere else and thank goodness he said No, that he only worked for Urgent Care.  (She wanted him to be her Primary.)

He gave her a dose of Prednisone right then and gave me a prescription for it in case her throat still bothered her tomorrow.  He also gave her a prescription for Zithromax ~ which I don't want to give her because she is allergic to everything and he knows that.  But, Mom does love the pills.

And, she told the nurses and doctor that I am the worst person she knows.  Hmmm.  I expect Social Services will come and knock on our door one day.

We will see how she does tomorrow.

Love, Leslie

Sweet Emma ~ A Great Summer

I have to send this out:  

Emma is the youngest niece and the ONLY one with the fabulous brown eyes!!!!  She has enjoyed her summer of watching television and sleeping.  What a life!  Enjoy it while you can before the real world intrudes!

Love,

Leslie

Check Out The Chairs

I finally bit the bullet and ordered two chairs that I thought would be nice around the glass table in the keeping room.  I HATE the brown chairs ~ they are too big, the cushions are horrible........

The horrible chairs

I ordered armless chairs in Navy blue from Grandin Road ~ and they come put together!!!!

A comparison of chairs

The seat is the same height from the floor as the brown chairs, but the height of the chair is lower, and the back is narrower ~ I know, you can tell.  Anyway, the chair is comfortable and I think looks nice.  

So, say goodbye to the old and ugly brown chairs!!!!!

Love,
Leslie 

PS ~ Mom is already complaining about how tight the "bandage casts" are.  It will be a long week.

Mom Update ~ July 2016 ~ Part II

Ok, we are back from the doctor.  It was successful ~ but there was a moment when Mom basically grabbed the doctor and said "I want to walk out of here with the medication in hand that will fix all this".  Not good.

Mom's blood pressure is 100/70 and her pulse was 66.  Here is a photo of Mom's legs while the nurse was bandaging them up for 7 DAYS to try and push the fluid out:

Both legs get wrapped to the knee for a week.

The wrap actually forms like a cast that she cannot get wet.  I have ordered non-skid socks and will get knee highs that will allow her to walk safely and sleep with out any issues.

She will see the cardiologist on Friday.  

Her biggest bone of contention........I will have to help her bathe at the sink.  She is not happy.

She actually asked the doctor if he could just admit her to the hospital and get all of this taken care of.  He told her that she could go to the Emergency Room and they MIGHT admit her, but they also might load her up on Lasix and send her home.

So, he loaded her up on Lasix and sent her home.  

She is ok, her body is just failing her.

That is it for today.  

Love, Leslie

Mom Update ~ July 2016

You have to love Mom.  Today, we went to the Duke Eye Center.  To get checked by the head Doctor ~ to see how her macular degeneration is progressing.

She told everyone that she could not see.  That she had these little blisters everywhere, that no one can see.  Their macular degeneration must be terrible.

We were there 4 hours.  BUT, her macular degeneration is stable.  She is not getting worse. Which is a win!

This is not a bad photo of Mom.  She is in her traveling wheelchair (because she won't or can't walk 5 feet without having to sit down and rest) ~ and her little yellow band signifies that she is a fall risk.

Please note that her right arm (with the yellow band) is the arm with the infection and it is MUCH better!!!!  She doesn't think so, but it is.

The most horrible thing about being at the doctor's for 4 hours is that the television was on FOX news and they were "showing" the Democratic National Convention and giving it the crazy Republican spin ~ and it was awful to watch!!!!!!!!!! A nightmare!!!!!!!!

Anyway, we go tomorrow to see her Primary and that is good because NOW she does have cellulitis in her right leg and she is so swollen with fluid, even though it is pouring out her left leg where she has a cut.

If it isn't one thing, it is another.  On the positive side, a physical therapist is coming on Wednesday to do a home safety evaluation - to see about setting up an exercise schedule.

So, all is well.

Much love,

Leslie

Good News for Drew

After a stint of consulting gigs, Drew has a new job!  He is the Director of Federal Cyber Security Technology and Engineering Systems for T-Mobile.  

What is that?  Nancy gave me this definition:  he deals with policy and next-gen implementation as it relates to existing and emerging Federal laws and regulations.  He works in their governmental affairs office in DC and loves it.  

So congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Love, Leslie

Looking Towards Christmas in July

I know, I know ~ it is way too early to be thinking about Christmas!  However, there are some people who are hard at work picking out just the right thing already.  Are we too commercial?  
Well, I love the holidays.  I love the anticipation, the colors, the traditions.  I love the excitement.  I love the nip in the air....well, we didn't have the nip in the air last year.  In fact, it was so warm, we grilled out in shorts!!!!!

Anyway, we may have gotten a bit out of hand with presents.  I BELIEVE there is a $50.00 limit or should be.  I do like the drawing of names ~ but I am willing to entertain any other ideas.  So, since this is in the blog, I will be WAITING for comments.

Waiting.

Waiting.

Love, Leslie

Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me.....

Jane appears to be having a fantastic learning experience at Northwestern.  I texted her last night and she was standing in line to get Kim Barker's autograph in her book that was the basis for "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" with Tina Fey.
Jane had also been to a taping of "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me", which is the greatest live game on NPR (especially since "Car Talk" is gone).  Anyhow, here she is with Peter Sagal:

Jane's friend, Emma, Peter Sagal and Jane

Not much else to report except we have had a ton of rain ~ I know, it is better than a drought, but my soaker hose on a timer has been off more than it has been on!  And I realize that is like washing your car and then it rains.

Much love,
Leslie

They View From Outside

It is gorgeous outside ~ and hot.  We had a big thunderstorm and some rain and a big puddle in the new hammock.  

Now you can see that I have everything planted ~ this is where (one day) the new patio and fire pit are going.

Carole's Mother's Day presents going wild

My neighbors brough Manny to me - they went up to Baltimore to see a game - this was the give-a-way.

Melanie getting some sun on her tummy

Mom sat on the edge of her bed last night (after I had gotten her in bed) and of course, she slides down to the floor.  I ask her not to sit on the edge, but it appears to not register.  So, I had to get Amy up at 2am.  To help pick up Mom.  

I had a state trooper tell me that the only people out after midnight are: cops, bad guys and potential victims.  Add to that mix, crazy old ladies.

Love,
Leslie

The Life of A Service Dog

Amy got a new outfit for Loki.  Her puppy trainer told her to get it because wearing the outfit would help keep people from reaching out to him and would help with socialization.

If he can learn to help with the laundry ~ that is a good service!!!!!

Then I got this shot of Amy and Maren prior to Sunday dinner:

Not much is going on ~ it is very quiet ~ I am doing the laundry and the dogs are asleep. Maybe it is naptime.

Love, Leslie

Happy Post-4th of July!!!

We had a LOVELY July 4th!  Jim always has a picnic at his house with all his friends ~ this year we had it at our house for two reasons:  safe for the geriatric set and dog friendly.

So everyone was invited and told to bring anyone they would like.  

I decorated with red, white and blue tablecloths, red plastic plates and utensils, pinwheels, flags ~ very festive.  Jim and Lori came over the night before with baked beans and potato salads: both vegetarian and regular and plenty of beer and ice in Duke blue coolers.

JJ made his famous chili and brought 100 hotdogs and buns.  Gwen and Jeff brought the best bourbon punch I have ever had ~ and Gwen carried the enormous punch bowl in her lap with the punch in it to the house!!!!!  And, there was no spillage!!!!!!! And, NO leftovers of the punch.  Drat.

Gwen also made her famous flag cake ~ delicious.  

I missed many picture opportunities.  :(

Jesse, Jim, Lori and Maren

Jesse and his girls

All of the guys were groomsmen in Lori and Jim's wedding AND OF COURSE the perfect picture popped in my head the morning after.  Since we will have more parties, I will work harder to get the perfect picture.

It was a great party.

It is very quiet in the days after.  I was outside with the dogs enjoying the silence and the sauna:

Loki and Bennett

We have had so much rain that the back yard is sodden, hence the humidity.  I never thought I would say this, but we do need to dry up a bit.

The only thing really growing is the combo of moonflowers and morning glories that I planted.  They are going crazy and already going up the stakes I put in there to help them up the fence.  

Does anyone remember the morning glories growing on the fence on the side of our grandmother Eddy's house in Chicago?  She lived next door to us one time then she went back to California before moving to Statesboro, Georgia.  Actually dragged to Statesboro, probably kicking and screaming.

Much love,
Leslie