December 28, 2025 Sunday

Greetings!

Well, good and bad things this week.  I hope you all had a good one. 

Monday I went to the dentist.  Technically no cavities, but it was the molar.  Something about a pocket underneath between the roots where the infection/inflammation dissipated and that is why the pain and swelling went down, but it will just happen again because it is all inflamed and it is loose so I need to have it removed by an oral surgeon.  They will get in touch with me and schedule that.  Did I want to be awake or not.  Not, thank you very much.  She thought the ear pain might be from the molar inflammation.  I had already planned to go directly to the walk-in clinic after the dentist because my eye had gotten much worse Sunday night.  The dentist volunteered to clean my teeth for me.  (She's my retired dentist's daughter who took over the practice but hasn't been able to hire a dental hygienist you might recall, so I haven't been able to get my teeth cleaned for maybe over 1 1/2 years.)  She was really nice and I will go back to her.

Leah brought me to the walk-in clinic and dropped me off.  Then she dropped off Dagan at work.  Dagan was going to pick me up when I texted him.  (They are sharing a car because Dagan's used electric Leaf he bought several years ago isn't holding a charge in the cold weather anymore...he's finally getting a new electric car soon.)

Anyways, I got a lady doctor who said my ear looked clean, no infection.  She thought it was probably from the molar and could bother me until the molar is removed.  (It is--haven't gotten a call from the oral surgeon's office yet.)  My eye she thought was pinkeye but wasn't totally sure.  Gave me a prescription for pinkeye drops and said if I wasn't better in like 48 hours to come back because I might need to see a specialist.  

I texted Dagan.  He came to pick me up, we got the prescription (at my favorite drive-thru pharmacy) and went home.  I started taking the pinkeye drops.  Between the eye, ear, and jaw--let's just say I haven't felt very social and spent my time under a blanket in my chair.

Tuesday.  Slowly worked on getting my 2026 bullet all ready for the year.  LOTS of breaks due to all kinds of head pains and the accompanying headache.  By evening I could hardly see out of that very sore right eye and it was watering like crazy.  Couldn't sleep till almost morning.  

Wednesday.  Christmas Eve.  Really bad pain in eye woke me up about 7am.  But when I got up to check it out (and pee, of course--lol!) it didn't hurt as badly.  I had only slept two hours that night and not much the couple of nights before that so I went back to sleep.  Woke up around 11am.  Eye looked worse--more red and puffy.  It didn't hurt as bad at the moment.  Texted Dagan and Leah...needed to go back to the walk-in clinic.  Leah worked until 2pm or so and she took me after work.  Nothing changed in the meantime.

Got a male doctor this time.  It was a long process.  He numbed my eye and checked things--did some other drops, too...dilation, I believe.  Was very concerned about my cornea not looking right.  He went off to call an eye specialist for a consultation.  Leah was in the room with me.  We waited about 35 minutes!  He came back all happy because we had a plan.  He'd talked the eye specialist into meeting me at 10am at the clinic across the street.  She'd watch for us and let us in.  In the meantime, I was supposed to fit in 3 doses of the pinkeye drops and three doses of the steroid drops she was prescribing before I went to bed--five minutes apart.  By this time it was close to 6:30pm and the clinic was supposed to close at 5pm!  The pharmacy stayed open that was right there in the clinic because none would be open for us anywhere else.  What a blessing!  There are a lot of kind people in this world.

I was too miserable to have dinner with them upstairs that night.  But Leah--always thinking--saw the tiny bottle of numbing drops he had put in my eye sitting on the desk in the room after the doctor left and she grabbed them up.  They would have tossed them anyways because they'd been opened.  I've used those before I go to bed and sometimes it helps me get some sleep!  Leah's an angel!  And a smart one--lol!

She came down that night after the boys went to bed and wrapped their presents from me in those cloth wrappings she uses.  (Japanese--furoshiki.)

Thursday. Christmas Day.

First of all, I was looking around for Allie...and found her up on the second level of the cat tree parked in the cubby!  She had gotten up there on her own! 

She had been sleeping in the bottom cubby a couple of times last week, as I had mentioned.  Obviously, kind of making forcing her up the tree to get up on the dressers (under protest) had finally given her reason to try the first jump by herself!

Using the steroid drops and pinkeye drops again in the morning...well, my eye was noticeably less red and swollen!  The total white fog where I couldn't see anything but vague shapes had been reduced to a clearer fog all over my eye where I could at least see shapes better.  Still couldn't read anything but could at least see my laptop screen well enough to watch a show where I already know all the main characters with both eyes open.  (Keeping one eye closed became a strain.)  The day before I couldn't see the E on the eye chart with my glasses on and good eye covered.  Couldn't see much at all really in that eye.  And it interferes or kind of overlaps my vision in the good eye.  Hard to describe.  BUT--that is why I have not commented on blogs last week and won't probably until this eye is better.  I have read them all, I think, just didn't comment.  It does give me a worse headache to try to read.  (Writing this blog is taking me most of the day today because I need long breaks, but I hate to miss a week and leave you hanging, you know?)

Christmas morning I did make it upstairs after most of the presents were already opened.  But it was the first time I have been with McFamily on Christmas morning!  That's some good news to share!! 

I was delighted that the boys liked their presents!

Ian got a kalimba of his own and a song book!  He came over to say thanks before he even opened the box.

I hadn't opened them up myself so it was a surprise to me, too, as to what they actually looked like.  The kalimba came with a case.  I was glad.

It is quite a bit bigger than mine and has the notes carved into it.  Very lightly, but they are there.  So he can more easily follow the song book.

Liam got a rain drum (also called steel tongue drum).  It also had a case and came with a song book.

The tongues are each numbered so he can follow the song book.

The rain drum is louder than expected, but that's what happens when you get gifts that make noise--lol!  They can come down here to practice if they are driving Mama and Daddy crazy.  (I haven't heard much loud noises from the rain drum since then, though...but there's good insulation in my ceiling--lol!)

Leah took all the Christmas pictures for me since I couldn't see well.  I didn't know she was sneaking pictures of me, too--lol!  Here I was finding out what was in my stocking.  I noticed that I am finally starting to turn gray in the back of my head, I think.  Not somewhere I can see well, even when I can see well--lol!

Here Ian was showing me what was in Allie's stocking and Laim had brought me a present from them.  (Fancy Bomba socks!)

Leah took me over to the eye specialist.  The place wasn't open.  He had said to drive up to the front door and she would look for me and let us in.  On Christmas morning!  Now isn't that something wonderful!!

She was very nice.  Checked my eye...asked questions...told me to forget taking the pinkeye drops (viral)...to take the steroid drops every hour on the hour while I am awake for two days and then every two hours after that...come back before 2pm on Monday.  My cornea is inflamed.  She asked me about other health issues...and suggested I try the natural foods one ingredient diet and do intermittent fasting.  That would help me get rid of all the inflammation issues.  She only eats during a two hour time period once a day.  Can have water and black coffee the rest of the day.  I have to say she sounded like she very personally knew of what she spoke.  I have been doing a tiny bit of research online.  Have to wait till eye is better.

Came home--said hi to Dagan and the boys and went down to start the steroid drops every hour.

That was when I saw what I thought could be a Christmas miracle!  lol!  Allie was up on the dressers!  Now, I was in rough shape and wondered...did I leave her up there when I left?  But the shade was down and I always have to open it at least partway or she makes a stink and tries to get behind the shade.  So I was pretty sure she had learned how to get up the cat tree.

Still feeling generally miserable.  Pain level goes up and down in eye and ear and even jaw was acting up here and there.  Spent the day under a blanket on my chair basically with a timer going off every hour.  BUT--I was there to see the Christmas miracle--ROFL!  Allie went up and down the cat tree to get up on the dressers by herself!  Big check in the GOOD list!!

That was faster than I had expected!  Dagan and Leah didn't think she could do it.  I always did, but I didn't expect it to go faster than her learning how to use the steps by her chair--lol!

Friday.  Drops every hour and the hour.  Still generally miserable and not sleeping very well.  I decided to show Allie what was way up on top of the cat tree.  Put a towel inside the cat bed on top for cushioning and lifted her up there.

Surprisingly she stayed and seemed to like it up there.

Even dozed off for a while.

I was up and down putting eye drops in...lo and behold...Allie walked in the bathroom when she had been up in the top cat bed!  She had gotten down by herself.  Now, could she jump way up there by herself?

Meanwhile, been putting up the Christmas Cards on the frig.  Also Ian brought me three things he drew and or colored from school.  I know you can't really see, but that bottom one is a whole series of things they each had to try to draw!  He did a good job!  Up on the frig they went.

Saturday.  Eye drops every two hours.  I look up and Allie is up on the cat bed--by herself!  I missed even seeing it the first time because I was watching The Brokenwood Mysteries on Acorn TV--lol!

But ever since then...Allie has a newfound freedom in her life.  She can go up on the dressers any time she wants...

...and she jumped up into the cat bed to watch the snow today.

Sunday.  Another blizzard warning that will go till Monday morning.  Going to be a challenge getting to the eye doctor, I would imagine.  Leah has to go to work.  She doesn't have all the time off Dagan does so he's home with the boys over their break.

Been snowing all day today.

Getting deeper and deeper.

As I was typing this the boys were outside and putting snow into the window well. ??  They can't hear me.  I was telling them they should be taking snow out and not putting it in.  They thought I was telling them to get out and quickly left.

Dagan was just telling me yesterday that the window swings outward if there was a fire so they needed to get snow away from at least that left side window that opens--lol!  So, I texted him and told him what happened and to tell the boys I wasn't telling them to get out.  Allie seemed to be waiting for them to come back.

Well, they did!  Daddy and the boys and a couple shovels.  Allie was up right away crying at the window and pacing back and forth like she wanted to go out with them or for them to come in--lol!

I took a video a bit later.  I am not sure it is working.  Right now it shows no picture?  I reloaded it twice.  So please let me know if you can see it.

Pardon my voice and snuffling.  Really not doing well yet.  

Anyways, that's it.  Action while I was writing this--lol!  I go back to the eye specialist tomorrow.  Fingers crossed there is improvement.  I am still looking through clearer fog in that eye.  Might be some improvement.  Maybe it is supposed to take a long time?  I'll know more to tell you next week.  What a Christmas, eh?!  I'm using the numbing drops before I try to sleep and it helps some most of the time.  Let's hope this is the end of the health issues from 2025 and that 2026 will be much better.  2025 was a good year and a bad year, I guess.  Quite a mix.  New Year's Eve is Wednesday!  Here's to a big shift for the better!!  I think I am going to post this earlier than usual. el badly that I haven't been commenting.  Happy New Year to each and every one of you!! 

December 21, 2025 Sunday

Greetings!

The boys play in my window well sometimes.  I am notorious for never remembering to take pictures when people are around.  Comes from living alone for over two decades--lol!  I took a few pics of Liam when he was playing without Ian out there earlier in the week.

I told him not to knock down the snow sculpture drifted over the edge there...

...so he was careful not to knock it down.

He's got a big stick to dig and poke in the snow.  I think it is from the thunderstorm that ripped down a huge hunk of their willow tree quite a while back, but I'm not sure.  A boy and a stick can be occupied for hours--lol!

When he left.

But then we had two warm days in a row where the snow was melting like crazy so the sculpted snow was gone anyways.

Miss Allie asleep on her chair one evening.  She has had no desire to go up by the window when the shade is down.

Has she learned to use the cat tree?  Not really.  Up is quite the challenge for her.  I help her by lifting and guiding her.  I think she will eventually get to going down by herself, though.  That's easier for her and takes less guidance now.  For a cat who didn't even know what steps were in her eleven years she's doing pretty well, I think.  

Oh, and Leah noticed they have senior food in the brand she eats...so we tried a small bag.  Picky-picky ate it with no hesitation!  Shock!  Probably looks and smells much the same, so we've switched her over to the old lady cat food.

After our two warm 40 degree days it went right back to the deep freeze.  We had a blizzard Wednesday night.  A more wind than snow blizzard, but the schools were closed on Thursday and my dentist cancelled my appointment.  :(

Now I have an appointment at 10:45am Monday.  Thank goodness I could get in before Christmas.

Very strange things are happening.

First my molar sent pain jolts to hot or cold, my jaw was really sore, and it swelled up (lower left side).  Then my appointment got cancelled.  Since a couple days before the cancelled appointment the hot and cold pain jolts had mostly eased, the swelling went down some, and the pain subsided some.  Meanwhile, my left ear hurts almost like I could have an earache (which I never get) and my right eye hurts on the outside, is a bit red, and a bit swollen under my eye. ???  WTH!  

I have no clue what is going on.  

Years ago, some of you may remember, I had what I thought was a bad cavity.  Now with fibro I have pain all over all the time, so it is hard for me to notice something new until it's really vying loudly for the forefront of my attention, you know?  Apparently, my jaw had become infected.  I had to have surgery to have two back molars removed and my jaw shaved down.  Yup--same lower left.  On the other hand, when I was having cancer treatment my entire jaw hurt so badly that I would have gladly had all my teeth pulled out!  No lie!  Went in and didn't even have one cavity.  Then I also remembered my dad had a bad tooth near the front and his cheek swelled up so much it closed his eye shut.  (He hated going to a dentist.)  So, your guess is as good as mine.  But at least I will get my teeth x-rayed and find out what's going on with them.  

I also just heard about a lady with an autoimmune disease who went gluten-free and it has helped her pain and exhaustion level tremendously.  I have never tried that.  Do any of you know of people who have gone gluten-free?  Is there a test of some kind to know if you have trouble with gluten?  

Dealing with health issues is exhausting.  

Anyways, I'll let you know what I find out at the dentist, of course.  At least I am no longer getting electric jolts from my coffee or water--lol!  ;)

Leah was sick the week before since Wednesday.  Went to the walk-in clinic last Monday.  Was afraid she had pneumonia again, but she didn't thankfully.  They gave her steroids and she was feeling better to go to work on Tuesday, I think it was--maybe it was Wednesday.  She has had more trouble with her asthma since the fires from Canada in the summers, she's noticed.  Doesn't bounce back like she used to and gets sicker for longer than she used to.  I'm glad they'll have some time off for the holidays.  Leah should just sleep!  Though I doubt she will--lol!  We all need a long break!

We aren't expected to be above freezing until maybe in January.  No more snow expected, either.

I am soooo glad we do have some snow for Christmas.  

I put a blanket and a cushion in the cubbies in the cat tree.  Allie has gone in to curl up in the bottom one a couple of times the past week.  So she's getting less scared of it.  Got to give us old ladies time to adjust to big changes--lol! 

I spent the weekend addressing envelopes for the 2026 birthday cards.  An assortment of leftover cards from different years will be going out in the coming year.  One more task off my to-do list.  

One funny silver lining--with my jaw, ear, and eye taking up all the attention I haven't notice my back or foot pain as much at all--ROFL!  Everything is relative.  Giggling to myself I jiggled Allie who was trying to sleep in my chair with me.  Annoyed, she went over to sleep in her chair in peace--lol!  

Well, my next task is to set up my 2026 bullet journal for the year.  Christmas is just around the corner and then New Year's Eve will be here in a flash...angel cards and burning bowl have been unpacked!!  I hope you all have a wonderful, joyous, fulfilling, peaceful, heartwarming week.  (Don't expect much, do I? LOL!)  Till next time when it is almost 2026!  Merry Christmas!  Happy Holidays!

December 14, 2025 Sunday

Greetings!

Well, my back is better...but now my jaw is swollen and I have pain until this Thursday the 18th when I can get in to a dentist.  Enough said at this point.  Fingers crossed.

Meanwhile...I did get the dresser drawers rearranged, did laundry, and worked on Christmas cards.  Almost done.  (Mouth pain slowed me down a bit.)  Dagan and Leah are going to try to come down this evening to put together the cat tree.  Again--fingers crossed.  :)

Allie loves being up on the dressers.  As soon as I am awake she wants me to open the blind.  She sits and stares up there until I notice her.  She even halfways cooperates on me lifting her up there even though she hates being picked up--lol!  When she wants to come down she sits at the end of the dresser and if I don't notice her she will finally meow at me.  She's up there every single day.

But my plan to put the little tree I ordered up on the printer...nope!  Allie tried to chew on it straight away.  I knew she chewed live plants, but she will chew plastic plants, too.

We got a bit of snow...

...and then some more.

I shuffled things around...moved the Charlie Brown tree over by the cactus...

...and put the little flocked tree where it had been.

It is small...

...but I am so happy with the tiny lights and this little bit of a Christmas tree.

Have always loved the way the wind sculpts the snow!

Can hardly wait for Allie to confront the cat tree!  LOL!

The winter scene shower curtain was too boring.  More pizzazz was needed--lol!

Since I am not feeling great this will be short, but if they can get the cat tree put together tonight I will add some pictures.

                                            ****************************

Well, they put the cat tree together upstairs and carried it down.

Allie can probably get up there from the second perching spot by going around the back there.

She'd only have to make the first two jumps.

Allie wanted to go up after they left, but was scared of the cat tree.  So I thought I'd lift her up there and see if she'd try to go down using it.  Whenever I put her up there she wants to look for condensation on the bottom of the windows to lick, so she was really upset the blind was down all the way and paced back and forth until I opened it partway.

The she sat and stared at the tree.

But when she wanted to come down she wanted nothing to do with it.  I tried to kind of push her on to the back there and she was a little freaked out...so I half lifted her and kind of jumped her down to the next spot...which she barely wanted to touch and leapt to the floor.  Was anything but a success, but I am still hoping she will want to try it.  We'll see how she is in the mornings when she wants to go up.  But she'll be upset if she goes up and the blind isn't open--lol!  Cats!

Anyways, the boys were down and showed me all their pottery they have made from the pottery classes.  Wanted to know if I could use some for painting cups.  Yes.  Turned out when I showed them I could dedicate a bookcase shelf in my studio when it gets done...they both wanted them kept down here.  I said only one shelf, though.  If there were too many we'd have to have them keep some in their room or somewhere.  I am going to be cramped in there as it is.  But this way we'd have them right there on display all the time and we could use any ones we want when we paint down here once the studio is all put together.  Several of them would work for paint water cups and others would just be basically decoration on the shelf.  

At the last minute Liam decided to keep his bag in their room.  He doesn't have very many compared to Ian because he hasn't been going to the classes as long as Ian has...and he has a really well-done special cup that I don't think he wants to feel like he's letting go of just yet.  Not that he's letting go of it, but he can't look at it any time he wants to, you know?  ;)  

We put the bags of newspaper wrapped pottery of Ian's in the bottom of a bookcase in the studio.  They'll have a shelf that size to fill.  [I do think Liam will probably change his mind and they will both have their pottery down here eventually.  ;)]

So...the cat tree has arrived!  Time will tell as to whether Allie will use it or not, of course.

Have a wonderful week!  See you next time!  :)