Sunday, March 19, 2023

March 19, 2023 Sunday--6:45pm

Good evening!

Since I have my consultation with the urologist tomorrow I am posting today instead of Monday.  This will be to meet the doctor and discuss the bladder scope.  (Not looking forward to this--have so enjoyed being left alone for all these weeks.)

How did the past week go?  Well, the shingles are getting better.  Still have the rash but it is less painful.  But all the other stuff has gotten worse again.  I am about back where I was with the Keytruda side effects before the shingles hit.  Mucositis (dry, sticky mouth), sinuses (back to one nostril if I'm lucky--it was so nice to have both for a while there), diarrhea (even had twice where I had to jump in the shower it was that bad), and non-functional tired and listless.  Yup!  Got knocked back once again.

After the terrible diarrhea I once again requested online to get another round of steroids (last Wednesday) but never heard anything back.  I am not familiar with how Sandford works, but I'm not using that method anymore.  I will try to call somebody.  Which I would have but my days and nights are still flipped and really off (often awake all night and sleeping all day) and just didn't care enough, to be honest.  Have you ever felt so crummy that you have no energy to deal with doing anything about it?  (Plus I had already been turned down and maybe am worse because the steroids were hard on my immune system?)  I didn't care.  Just enduring and trying to ignore it all.  

Going to be very tired at this appointment tomorrow I would imagine--would love to cancel, honestly.  But, don't worry--I do know I need to go so I have been taking Imodium so I can get there.

Anyways, we've had more snow off and on.  Allie has been watching the Critter Cafe Show.


So windy it was blowing back feathers on the partridges.
Middle of the night photos of the back sidewalk in-between the buildings...
...and the front in-between sidewalk.
They don't keep up with the rest of the sidewalks very well--except by the main front doors of each of the three buildings.  Especially in the back of the buildings.

Anyways, Blaine and his younger son, Ryan, stopped by on Tuesday to pick up Grandpa's desk.  It was two years ago they dropped it off.  Who knew I was going to be moving.  Not me!  LOL!  They stayed for a short visit.  
While they were here Leah and the boys stopped by to drop off some groceries.  When they all left I slept all evening.  That is how it has gone--lol!

More arctic hares around lately.  Usually during the night but recently they have stopped by when the sun is going down.  Maybe daylight savings time has them thrown off, too--lol!  I've seen up to 5 or6 of them after dark out there!  
I finished selecting threads for the bookcards and began sewing them together.
Four trays worth to sew.
Allie wasn't happy about my lap being occupied for three nights--lol!
I'd pile up bookcards to be sewn on one side...
...had needle and leftover thread jar on the other side.
So that was what I was doing while I was up all night long for several days.  (Living in an apartment building you don't want to make a lot of noise at night and this was a perfect activity.)
As you can see, I am surrounded by all kinds of writing supplies and things I might need all of the time--lol!  

Anyways, I finished this big batch!!  Two satchels are packed full now!
What I had left from last batch and this new batch will last me a long time now.  
What am I going to do with all the pieces of embroidery thread? 
 I will sit and cut them into tiny pieces to use them for inclusions when I make handmade paper!  The first summer I am living at the house I think the boys will love making thread confetti paper with Gramma out on the deck.  I made some years ago and I do love the colorful paper it makes...which I then use for bookcard covers--lol!

Also had a few larger bookcards that didn't fit in the satchels.  Used an odd sized paper for these covers that needed the half sheet sized envelopes they're sitting on.
Have really enjoyed seeing the arctic hares in the daylight.
Hard to realize in a photo how huge they are.
There's been about half a dozen of them coming around at night.
They fight over the food quite often and Allie and I will hear one of them bang against the glass patio door.  Startles us every time!
I forgot to ask Leah if the floor guy came this week to do the epoxy.  Texted her but she hasn't answered yet.  Probably busy with the boys and dinner.  She hasn't sent any pictures, though, so I rather doubt it.  Probably this coming week.

Anyways, hopefully I will know more about the bladder scope after the visit tomorrow.  I'm hoping they can't schedule it for a while.  Weeks!  (Or maybe say I don't need it at all.) Wishful thinking?  I should probably try calling Dr. Failing's nurse to see if he would renew the steroids tomorrow, too.  We could swing by and pick them up at the pharmacy.  Wishful thinking?

Leah texted me back.  Nope--no epoxy yet.  She expects he'll be there this week then.  There will be pictures!

So, that's it from this last week.  I hope I can get a decent amount of sleep.  (I did sleep less during the day today so that may help.)  I am thrilled that I finished the bookcards!!  I was bound and determined to get one thing crossed off my to-do list so I kept plugging away.  Feels great knowing that big project is finally done!  I don't think tomorrow will be too difficult of a doctor visit--just be glad when I am back home.  (Will probably sleep all evening--lol!)  Thanks to you all for your kindness and support.  It means a lot.  Especially when I get knocked back so many times.  This too shall pass.  And one day I will be making handmade confetti paper with Leah and the boys on the deck on a beautiful warm day.  

I am determined.  ;)

17 comments:

Deb J. in Utah said...

Hi Rita. I got your email earlier today, just haven't had a change to properly respond. Weekends seem to fly by. Those bookcards are wonderful. Wow, you are so creative and very productive to get all of those done. So sorry you haven't been feeling well. I hope you will feel good enough to email me tomorrow or Tuesday after your appointment and let me know what the doctor says. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I look forward to your confetti paper. I also make handmade paper and have used bits of thread in it. I know you and the boys will love making your own paper.

Sorry to read about your latest problems. I know this must be difficult. I hope you don't have a diarrhea attack tomorrow. And I hope you get the steroids you need, too, dear.

Congrats on getting those card finished. BTW, I sleep during the day and am up all night, too.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Sounds like you have been having a rough time - again. Good luck with your appointment and I hope they can set you right again.

Anvilcloud said...

Your wish for crafts on the deck is getting closer to coming true. Spring has sprung, according to the calendar anyway. It is sunny here and supposed to go up to 43F.

DJan said...

Got my fingers crossed for you to come home and be happy about the visit. And hope you get some sleep afterwards, dear friend.

jinxxxygirl said...

That phrase has gotten me through so much in my life Rita.. This too shall pass... My heart is with you Rita! So looking forward to receiving one of your 'booklets'.. Such a great letter writing idea! Don't be surprised if i make you something like it! When your up to it can you show us how you put the thread through them?Hugs! deb

Jeanie said...

Good luck with your appointment. Despite being really tired, maybe it's a good thing it is today and you might be able to get some answers. I hope so.

Sometime will you explain to me what your book cards are? I think I started reading you long after you would have started these and I'm not sure I fully understand.

Hang in!

Mary said...

Best of luck with the appointment today. Hope it doesn't wear you out too much. May there be better days ahead.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

It certainly hasn't been a great week for you, Rita, but once again your positive outlook always comes through. I hope that, despite your hesitance about the medical appointment, there is some or rather a lot of good news, which I know you will share either way. Just know that you are always being sent good thoughts and positivity from NH and so many other places.

You did get a lot done with the book cards and they look lovely. Allie did look a bit put out over losing her lap seat.

I could see from your photos that the size of those Arctic Hares is very large as is the piled up amounts of snow you have been receiving.

Good news on the shingles being less bothersome, now if only those other issues would go the same route.

Jon said...

I'm glad that your ordeal with shingles is improving. Unfortunately it takes a lot of time.
It looks like spring is reluctant to arrive in your neck of the woods. Hopefully the snow will melt soon (??) It's freezing here in TN. The temperature dropped to 13 degrees last night!

I always love the photos of the Arctic hares - - and Allie looks beautiful.
Take care - - and welcome to spring!

Jim and Barb's Adventures said...

Stay determined! Although things are not going as well as you like them it sounds like you are staying positive. That is important. I am sure you already mentioned this but what are you doing with all the bookmarks?

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

Determined is a good way to be when one is forever going to medical appointments.

Janie Junebug said...

Yes! You will definitely enjoy McFamily time on the deck. I am sure of it. The boys will be so happy to have you there. How much do you think an Arctic hare weighs? I've gotten my days and nights mixed up many times and it ruins any semblance of a normal existence. You can't call for appointments and being awake at the right time to go to an appointment was always hard for me. It is spring here. I know because I've been trying to work on the yard and plant flowers in the ground and in pots and Franklin has been happily munching the potting soil. I didn't know if I would bother trying this year, but I bought the plants so I'll continue putting them out and try to discourage Franklin's strange dining habit.

Love,
Janie

Juli said...

I'm sorry you're feeling cruddy. The break from the doctors are nice but at what price? *sigh*

I love all the papers you make. Do you sell them on etsy or locally? The tread confetti paper would just make me so happy, I just know it.

We have had literally no snow this year. Nothing. So weird. I broke down and started putting out the chairs and table as it's the first day of spring. The hubs will have to help me with the fire pit (concrete and gas) as it's still too heavy for me to move after surgery. Shame he's being a butt about it, it's the perfect night for it. :)

Victoria Zigler said...

Hope the appointment went well, and you get some steroids or something soon. Oh, yes, I'm all too familiar with that feeling of being too tired and drained to do anything about it. *sigh*

Awesome you were able to cross something off your list. And, yes, craft projects like that are perfect for those times when you want to be quiet because most people are sleeping, but at the same time you want to make the most of being alert and well enough to be productive.

Cool about seeing so many critters lately.

Glad they came to pick up the desk. And, yep, hopefully won't be long before you can be crafting with the boys, after having settled in your nice new home. :)

Divers and Sundry said...

I hope your consultation went well. I'm glad the shingles is improving, but sorry you're having these other issues continuing.

We're having rain and wind and even some sleet but no snow. Y'all are getting so much! Awww, Allie looks hopeful, though. She knows she'll get her lap back if she looks like that long enough ;)

Far Side of Fifty said...

I hope your Dr. visit went well. Yeah for getting your project done ...now onto another!!