Christmas is coming...

We are in the home stretch towards Christmas. Bob and I went to see The Nativity Story yesterday. (It was the first time he has been to the theater for 19 years - the last thing we saw together was Stakeout - the original.)

This is a wonderful movie. The only things I thought were not quite right was that they compressed the time line - the Maggi arrived the night of Jesus' birth. And the heavenly host was on vacation during the announcement to the shepherds.

Beyond the obvious portrayal of the birth of Lord Jesus, it gave me a good look into the 'smallness' of life back then. Life revolved around life. There was one thing that was important and that was getting things done in proper order since the there were no shortcuts. You had to grind the grain to make the flour to make the bread to feed the family today and tomorrow you repeated the same things. I realize this is the way life is for many even today. The contrast in my life which has much choice in it with the life where when Caesar wanted you to do something an approaching birth meant nothing is unfathomable.

What you did was evident to everyone. One of my favorite parts was when a very pregnant Mary and Joseph were leaving Nazareth everyone was looking down their long noses at them. Joseph turned to Mary and said, "They're going to miss us." I still chuckle at the obvious. It was a 'filler' line but it was true. They would miss them. And there were no phones to call home and let everyone know what happened. Their leaving was open-ended and, until they returned years later, I doubt there were many opportunities for communication.

I recommend seeing it, especially now in this short season before we celebrate this birth.

A Big Day After A Long Night

There are many times when I don’t get much sleep. That usually happens after an important or busy day or the night before an important or very busy day, when I have a project that needs finishing or when it is windy. Last night all of those things met and I ended up with about three hours of sleep.

Bob and I spent Saturday morning at our church preparing for today’s Christmas Potluck then headed out to Alyssa & Dan’s for Bob’s 60th Birthday Party at noon. It was a lot of fun – including, surprisingly, the gun-fight that raged around us for a while. I was looking at one of the dart-guns they were using and suddenly I was a target. I was just LOOKING! Fortunately, except for Tami's direct hit right on the spot where I broke my arm this summer, they really don’t hurt. I was surprised at what a weakling I was when I tried to cock the gun. – That right arm again….

We got home and 5 p.m. felt like 10. After a bite to eat so I could take some pills I still needed to pull some things together for today and got stuck trying to copy Christmas CDs for today’s ‘mood’ music. I didn’t want to bring originals in case I forgot them. My install of Roxio’s software wasn’t working so I tried a couple of other programs. Nothing would do what I needed. I finally got one copied but the next one didn’t work no matter what I did. I finally gave up.

I wanted to print labels and that was another struggle. If I had found the Roxio CD last night I probably would have been in bed by 10 but that didn’t happen. Finally about 1 a.m. I quit and went to bed. I had my heating pad snuggled around my arm and was quite drowsy when the South wind started up. I slept through it a couple of nights ago and it kept Bob awake but last night I wasn’t fortunate enough to get to sleep before it started. It howled so loud in the trees I was wide awake again.

I finally got up and went back to work on the CDs. I crawled under the covers around 5 and needed to be at church by 8:30. We were about 15 minutes late. I had my one copied CD and a couple more originals. I decided that I WOULD remember them.

At church, the room needed to be transformed from an adult Sunday School class to a festive place to eat. It is amazing what a bit of pre-planning and cooperation can do. What would have taken our little group an hour to do was done by a roomful of people in 20 minutes.

The dinner went well and it was all cleaned up and we were home by 3. We were both very tired but mostly resisted napping so we would sleep better tonight.

Oh, and tomorrow I need to stop by church to pick up my CDs.

Turkey Soup

I spent the afternoon in the kitchen cutting, scraping, simmering and picking and ended up with some very good Turkey Soup. Tami gave me the bones of yesterday's bird and today my kitchen smelled wonderful. I made soup after Thanksgiving for many years but when we started having turkey at one of our kids' houses, I lost the left-overs and the soup. Thank you, Tami. You didn't have to pick the bones and we had supper. I also have two 9 cup containers and two 6 cup containers filled to put in the freezer.

Recipe...
One turkey carcass
Celery
Onion
Carrots
Salt
Pepper
Barley
Rice

Put the turkey, a couple of stalks of celery, half of a large onion - cut up, a couple of carrots - chunked, about 1 teaspoon of ground pepper and salt in a big pot. Add enough water to cover everything. I have a stock pot that is just perfect. It is tall, holds a lot but isn't larger than my large burner.

Bring to a boil then simmer for two hours. Fish all of the solids out of the stock. Make sure to get all of the little bones that end up on the bottom. Strain if necessary. Drain.

Add 1-1/2 cups barley and 1 cup rice (not Jasmine - it is too soft), 2 carrots, 1/2 onion, and a couple stalks of celery - all cut in small pieces - to the stock. Add additional salt and pepper if needed. Bring it back to a boil and cook for about 1/2 hour - until the barley is soft.

When it is cool enough to handle, separate the meat from the rest. Save the meat; give the soft stuff to your dog; throw the bones away. It takes about that much time to pick out the meat. When the barley is done, add the meat and eat.

Thanksgiving Friday

Getting together with our four kids (three of whom work different shifts), their spouses, our five grands plus Bob and I is wonderful. They are all married, three with inlaws living in the area - and that makes for a logistics problem for every holiday. This year two (and their families) spent yesterday - Thanksgiving Day - with their inlaws, one (and her husband) came over for dinner here and one (and his family) is spending tomorrow, Saturday, with his inlaws. Today was ours.

Alexis was waiting at the window looking for the first arrival.

We had the most delicious food. The turkey was moist, the smashed potatoes, green salad and green bean casserole were barely enough and hand-made chocolates and a from scratch bundt cake were wonderful.

We are truly blessed. We are not without problems but the fact that the whole bunch of us like to be with each other and are each other's friends is truly priceless.

Although reading the ads yesterday was enticing, Bob and I didn't get any shopping done today. I woke up at 4 a.m. - I know, just in time to get the 'good' deals - but I was very tired. I finally was able to get back to sleep at 7 and slept until 10. We were able to relax and get everything gathered to be able to get to Aaron and Tami's by 1 p.m.

Their house is comfortable - there is space for everyone to spread out. They got new cupboards this year and it was wonderful to work in their new kitchen. As the rest arrived all the women were talking about watching the FOOD Network's Thanksgiving preparation programs yesterday. It does make it seem do-able when you can watch someone do it. It is just too bad they aren't on before the day you are supposed to be cooking.

The day was quite pleasant. We ended with some of us playing games (my new thrill - to be able to play games again) others played with the kids or sat and talked. Bob got in and got dishes cleaned up, much to everyone's appreciation. By the time 7 p.m. rolled around we were ready to leave - a very pleasant day added to our memories.

Holding on to good

Well, it has been a few days since I wrote anything. I’ve been coming out of the fog. I haven’t taken pain pills (Vicodin) for a few weeks and I’m seeing myself getting some things done. I’ve been using the can opener with my right hand pretty well which was a major accomplishment. I get frustrated because I can’t reach around my back like I used to – yet. It makes dressing and undressing something I have to ‘think’ about instead of just doing.

I don’t have the reach I used to have with my right arm so turning off the light above the stairs is difficult. But, I can lift up my grandkids! Natalie jumped into my arms yesterday when we went over to baby-sit. It’s funny how you get used to doing things like picking up a kid and when I couldn’t, I missed it.

Bob and I watched Alyssa and Dan’s kids Saturday. Bob was in the family room with Nat and Zander and 14 month old Hayden stayed around me in the kitchen. He was in his high chair for a while but I couldn’t see him and I wanted him to get to know me better. Because of Bob’s surgery and my broken arm, we haven’t been around him as much as we would have. So, I picked him up, sat him on my hip and made mac and cheese. He was good about not reaching out so I cooked and stirred, sat him down on the floor to drain the mac and picked him up to fix the sauce.

I was getting things out of the cupboard and asked Nat if she knew if her mom had any dried onion. “I don’t like onions,” she said. When I found some I explained they were so small she could taste it but she couldn’t see it. That seemed to be all right. Of course when I put it in the butter they all turned brown and, if she thought of it, she could see it.

When I put it into the oven I thought I had made more than we could eat. Finally the buzzer went off and dinner was ready. The kids had been very busy up until then. You forget the normal din that three little kids can make when your baby is 25. Nat prayed and Zander prayed and that was the last sound they made until someone’s plate was empty and “More, please,” was heard. By the time they were done there was only a healthy tablespoon left. Dan finished that off when they got home. Nothing for the next day’s lunch. Alyssa had warned me that they had good appetites. Yes.

Dan took Alyssa for a “date” to McMenamins for dinner and a movie – Talladega Nights. http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=3&id=30

Earlier Pearls of wisdom from grandson Zander: When your mind is full and your stomach is empty it is very hard to sleep.

Fall Back

It looks like we've survived the time change, at least we will once we start sleeping in until 5. Fall-back is my favorite night of the year - I can sleep in and no one says anything. This year, though, is different.

Saturday was the Harvest Festival at our church. I'm one of those whose job was to organize and get it going and clean it up. I had a couple of late meeting nights last week and I was up until late Friday night helping set things set up at church and then getting the last of the people arranging done at home. I think there were 63 volunteers. The event went well. The count at the door was, if I remember correctly, 361 people. Everyone left smiling.

We have accumulated, through borrowing or building, several school carnival-type games – Cake Walk, toss a softball at three milk bottles, darts, etc. We had 8 games and crafts set up. We sell tickets – 6 for one dollar – and give them a card that gets hung around their neck. Then the kids go around playing games for a ticket or two. Depending on how well they do, they get at least one punch – up to 4 – per game. When they’re done they can go to the Prize Booth and buy things for one to 25 punches. One couple takes photos and prints pictures on the spot. There is a background someone made years ago where you can poke your face through a pumpkin or owl for the picture. A couple of families fix chili, hot dogs, nachos, chili dogs and this year they had pies donated to sell – all for a ticket or two. Lots and lots of pies.

The event started at 3 and was to be over by 6 although this year it went on a bit because Pee Wee, our resident clown, had come toward the end and was making balloon animals, swords, etc., for the kids. As soon as he came in and set up his pump, kids came from all over to see what was going on. Two of my granddaughters were there. The younger didn’t hesitate when I took her over. Her older sister was a bit hesitant - like her Auntie Alyssa was at her age - and wasn’t comfortable with the whole idea – even though she understand that he was really her Auntie Heidi’s daddy. Their Mom, Tami, was a great help. She ordered the prizes (Oriental Trading) and organized some crafts for the event. She made it much easier for the rest of us.

Everything was cleaned up by 8:30 and I headed home. I was asleep by 11. And awake at 1. I had just enough rest to get my mind going – thinking about the afternoon and what we should or shouldn’t do next time. I tried to go back to sleep. I tried counting backwards from 99 and starting over again when I made a mistake – usually a sure sleeper. I didn’t make it below 90 most of the time. Over and over I tried to just get my mind tired. I even sung the Alphabet Song – backward – in my head… zxyw vut; srqp onmlk. Jih; gfe; dc b and a. now I know my ZXYs aren’t you very proud of me.

I probably should have just gotten up and gone to the computer and written it all down to get it over with but I was afraid it would keep me up. I finally got back to sleep around 5. And woke about 6:30. With a sore throat from snoring. Needless to say, I, we didn’t make it to church. Bob still felt worn out from the cold or whatever he’s been down with and didn’t want to expose himself to whatever is going around.

Then, today, we were both up by 4 a.m. and now it is almost 9:30 p.m.

We both feel better than we have for a long time but run out of steam earlier than we want. My arm feels much better but every once in a while it hurts like the dickens.

I did get to Fabric Depot for 50% off packaged quilt batting sale. I also picked up some wool for a jacket. Red. I need to check its shrink-ability then steam it.

Now it’s almost time for bed.


Pearls of wisdom from grandson Zander: When your mind is full and your stomach is empty it is very hard to sleep.

Shortening But Solid

I got lab results yesterday:

I routinely have one test at least twice a year - the A1C. It is an average for the past three month’s blood glucose. My A1C was 5.5 which is what it has been. It is equivalent to about 120 mg/dL glucose/blood averaging both the highs and lows. That would be good during normal life and is excellent considering all of the physical stress my body has gone through in the past three months. Stress does make it harder to keep your blood sugar under control. I know I had some high readings and some close to hypoglycemic when I took a walk after taking meds for it and not eating much. It should be 110 or lower in the morning and 140 or lower 1 ½ to 2 hours after eating. 70 is when hypo(low)glycemia(glucose in the blood) starts to become a problem. You get light-headed and much worse because your brain is starving.

She said my thyroid tests were “normal” but I asked for a copy of my lab results so I can see the numbers. Mine have been contradictory lately.

My mammogram was normal. I just need to go back and exchange the little shower chart. I didn’t have my glasses on when I picked it up and didn’t look at it until I got home. Yo hablo español? I don’t.

My bone density test – she said the results were comparable for a much younger woman! I’m Dense! OK, I know I’m opening myself up with that one. She did say that my right hip does show some bone loss. I’m not surprised since I have some arthritis in it. I do have to quit falling and keep taking calcium.

The results surprised me. I haven’t taken in much calcium since I was six – 1952. I have been taking it since I broke my arm but only sporadically before that. The fact that I have ‘slim’ bones may actually have been helped by being overweight for years. That benefit is counteracted by osteoarthritis developing earlier. I found that overweight women with high bone mineral density are more likely to develop osteoarthritis. That means that now that I am dense, I need to take my calcium and loose weight to relieve the pain. And do weight bearing exercises.

And I have lost that inch in height. Maybe I do need to get some way to hang me from the ceiling. Just for a little while. I’ve been thinking for quite a while that it would just stretch everything out and make my back not ache so much.

Well, it has been an hour since I took my thyroid pill so I can now eat…

A Renewed Celebration Season

In less than a month our family begins Celebration Season. Birthdays – Sue, Becca, Mom M., Bob, the anniversary of our first date, Natalie, Andrea, Zander, Aaron and now John - and all of this is just in the space between November 17th and December 21st. Then Christmas arrives.

All of this usually seemed to come as a great surprise to me. I struggled with this for many years. The facts should have been obvious. The day is approaching. Think of a gift, get it/make it, get/make a card, wrap the gift, sign the card, stick it all together and put it where we could find it, then give it at the appropriate time. It is the same thing every time. I know when these things are coming. It should be a no-brainer.

However, as it worked out for me for many years, it usually wouldn’t be until a day or two – if that – before the event that I realized I needed that gift. I felt guilt and I felt inadequate. That immobilized me even further. I may have bought a card but then would misplace that. I just couldn’t figure out what made it so difficult. And this was just a small part of my life.

Then last fall, my sis-in-law, Linda, said that she has been feeling so much better after switching thyroid medications. She stopped Synthroid and started Armor Thyroid. I researched it on the internet – of course – and presented it to my Family Nurse Practitioner. We have been trying to ‘fix’ me for years so she was open to try it. I had also been taking Ritalin. Being ADD doesn’t help this situation. The first day I took my first Armor Thyroid and Ritalin and I felt VERY much awake. I stopped the Ritalin so I could see how this would work.

I was surprised that I was DOING things. I would eat dinner and actually put the dishes in the dishwasher and clean the kitchen. All of a sudden it seemed quite logical – for the first time in a very long time. Decades. Everything I did was a struggle. I had to ‘realize’ what needed to be done and then figure out what to do – if I could only find the energy – then repeat that the next time something very routine came along.

I did quite well through Christmas although I noticed I was more and more tired. My thyroid tests 'seemed' normal so after Christmas I started taking Cymbalta. It is an anti-depressant – something I usually need to take. It was supposed to give me energy. It put me on the couch. I was excited if I got dressed. By the middle of January, the process of going with all of our family to Eagle Crest Resort wore me out before I got there.

We (my FNP & I) couldn’t figure out what my problem was. In hindsight I felt like I did when a psychiatrist decided I was bipolar, not ADD, and put me on lithium and Alyssa’s wedding was fast approaching. I finally realized that I have never been manic (and another psychiatrist agreed with me). Quite the contrary. And I had a wedding gown to make. I got rid of the doctor and the meds at the same time.

This time we assumed… I don’t know what was assumed but Cymbalta wasn’t seen as a problem. I kept waiting for that energy to appear. Plus my nose turned red almost as soon as I began Cymbalta. We assumed it was rosacea. I rubbed creams and took antibiotics – still red.

Fast forward (slowly) to June. Bob discovered he had prostate cancer and I knew I needed to wake up. I had to take care of him when he came home from the hospital. I went through each pill I was taking and Googled it along with ‘tired’. Cymbalta came up positive as a side affect. That red nose was a side effect of Cymbalta. It is getting a little better.

Unfortunately, it isn’t something you can just stop taking. It wasn’t until sometime in August that I took the last of it and by then I had broken my arm. Does anyone see a pattern here?

In June I went to Bob’s doctor for something and he upped my thyroid – a lot. That and coming off Cymbalta I am finally coming out if it. And I’ve lost some weight. My appetite is more like it was in my early 20’s. Now if I could just get that 24” waist back….

What I was missing was T3 – which helps mental functioning, metabolism, etc. It is the thyroid hormone that does the work. I realized that there was really something to my new med on New Year’s Day 2006. Our Sunday School class gets together to get rid of Christmas goodies and watch the bowl games. Bob was still recovering from pneumonia and stayed home but I actually went – alone – and came home early. And when some of us sat down to play a new game I understood the rules and concepts the first time! I even won! It had been years since that happened. I would always have to keep asking what to do and I never really could relax and enjoy myself. Remembering New Years Day kept me going this year. I had hope.

So now, with all of this year behind us, Bob is doing well and I am actually thinking about what I need to do. I may be tired but it’s not that groggy peeking out through a little parting in the fog.


LET THE CELEBRATIONS BEGIN!

Monday, August 21, 2006 - Another blog

(Continuing reposting - this time from my Creativity-Sidetracked blog. I want it to be more focused on things I do in creative not personal ways. I feel like this is like editing over and over again.)

I'm searching for the right blog spot. Since June, Bob had surgery for prostate cancer and I fell and broke my right arm. We got hooked on frequently updating just how we're doing using a medical page and now we want to be out of that and on with life. We are no longer in crisis mode although my arm begs to differ with that quite frequently.

In the mean time, our oldest is looking for a family blog but, being the independent that I am, I want a place where I can ramble. I tried Yahoo 360 but it doesn't seem to fit me. I hope this is easy to get to and to update.

Right now, though, I've been waiting for my pills to make me sleepy and have about given up. I guess it is time to just lay down and fake it.

Entry for July 29, 2006 - Home Alone

(Continuing reposting....)

I have wondered how the Pfaffs with the pressure-foot lifter handle that seems oriented for us righties works for lefties. Today I discovered – better than expected.

I’m trying to avoid the “poor me, I’ve got a broken arm”. I decided that I needed some sort if a top that I could pull up w/out shoulder straps so I had my DH take me to Fabric Depot two days ago. I just wanted something simple. I found a piece of t-shirt knit – white with green and blue geckos, hoping to appeal to the DGKs. (They didn’t notice.)

I ‘let’ my husband go off to help someone for the day and decided to sew. I’m one who ends up with a mess but hates starting out that way so I spent some time throwing and stacking stuff. I had already preshrunk the stuff.

I started with the idea of making straps (that I didn’t end up using) and decided that using the serger would be easier than the scissors to cut them out so I folded the stuff about 2.5” wide, the length of some white t-shirt knit and serged away cutting & stitching at the same time. Of course the upper looper thread broke and the serger is almost 25 years old so there is no easy threading but I did it single - left-handed. Finished with that I matched the width of the fabric ends, pinned and stitched it up then serged-finished the ends.

I pinned both a hem on the bottom and an opening for elastic on top. I changed my 21140’s needle to a double 2.0, threaded them with a stick threader and stitched the seams. One thread did break once because I separated them in the threading but that was it. I was just getting the elastic out when my DH came home so I let him measure it and thread it through the opening. I stitched the ends and the opening and it was done. It was not gorgeous especially since I didn’t taper it in the back but I actually did it

The automatic foot raising was wonderful. I didn’t have my knee-lift in and that would have been better. It was doable. Now I’m very tired but feel a bit successful even though it definitely looked home-made.

Of course I forgot something to warm my shoulders on this cool low-to-mid-70’s day so I ended up at the birthday luau spending part of the time wearing a Mexican blanket over my brand new top - a chilly granddaughter thought that was great.

Kathleen out in Portland, Oregon – who physically cannot get to her stash so had to shop

Saturday July 29, 2006 - 10:36pm (PDT)

Entry for July 21, 2006

(Continuing reposting...)
Well it's a pain to break your humerus. I have an appointment on Tuesday and tentatively have surgery scheduled the next day. I'm not sure if it will be just to put a rod down my arm or if it is also because there is possibly nerve damage in my hand. I can't open up more than an inch between my thumb and fingers.

Because I am diabetic (Type 2) there is a concern for infection. It feels like bla, bla, bla. I just want my arm back.

We hit 104F in Portland today. If you sweat enough and sit in front of a fan, it's not too bad. My Girl Cousins are probably out to eat now - probably in air conditioning if they have such a thing in Maple Valley. I've been eating finger foods - cherries & puffed wheat - mmmmm. Bob is looking for some canned baked beans for me since I might be able to handle a spoon with my left hand.

Friday July 21, 2006 - 05:48pm (PDT)

Entry 2 for July 19, 2006

(Continuing re-posting my blog from another site...)

Scratch out MY plans for the next few days - more like weeks. Plan B has gone into effect.

I fell today. I just slipped on the grass at my daughter-in-law's folk’s house, fell and broke my right arm midway between my elbow and shoulder. I won’t tell you what it is like to move your arm and part of it does. Of course I am right handed, a touch typist AND LOVE MY E-MAIL.

I go in the morning to get it set, hopefully without surgery. After arriving at the emergency room by ambulance (Code 1, Low Priority / Obey all laws, At your convenience), they spent more than an hour just taking x-rays which was the worst thing I’ve done this week. After three hours, they sent me home for the night. I really didn’t want to leave but, except for a skinned knee, no other damage seems to have been done and we didn’t feel like paying more than the $50 co-pay.

I didn’t get to see my youngest grandkid/son work on taking his first steps, go swimming, or let my granddaughter help me cook pilaf (so she would be willing to try something new.)

I guess I can still read e-mail (and write a bit) so I won’t completely loose touch. I’m not looking forward to sleeping. My DH is not working right now since he is just recovering from surgery himself but he is able to drive and help me and feed me Perkocet.

Any tips and advice you may have will be appreciated. At least it wasn’t because I was dizzy or anything of that nature. I am so glad I have my Wacom tablet since my mouse just got grounded.

Kathleen - hoping to sleep a bit tonight

p.s. the Honda didn't sell either

Entry 1 for July 19, 2006

I had begun a blog on another site but found it less flexible. However, I would like to add my old posts to this blog since my first entry was in the morning before I slipped and fell and, well, had a very long summer...

I had added a quote -

If you'd like to change your circumstances you have to change your behavior. In order to change your behavior, you have to change your thinking.

Falling is not good behavior.

Entry for July 19, 2006
I am going to escape from the coming 102 or so on Saturday by going to a Girl Cousin's get together. It is only supposed to be 90 there - really cool.

Today, my husband is selling his little red Honda de Sol. It has been fun, gets great gas mileage and is really cute. (So is he, but that's another story.) But that little car has been less fun to get in and out of. As long as we aren't moving and our eyes are shut, we are still 22. Reality isn't at all close to that vaporous image.

We are planning to run out to see our oldest daughter and her family later on. We haven't been out there since Bob's stay at Club Med but he is feeling up to longer rides now. I might even take my swim suit....

To Blog or Not to Blog...

To blog or not to blog – that’s not the question. The question is: should I continue to inconsistently blog only on Creativity Sidetracked or should I also give myself a place to express myself in areas that are distracting and questionable when thinking of creativity? To have one blog for my personal thoughts, impressions and observations and another as an outlet for creative things I do, that is my conclusion.

So, tonight, after a very long day, I begin Kat's How Do I Do .

Welcome!

Kathleen