Quarantine and chill and kindness chatty clubhouse: Jump in and join the conversation! All is welcome!

[easyas123]

Good morning everyone.

Been trying to keep up, and reading along. Haven't posted much because #1 we've been busy, in a good way, around here #2 I don't have much to say! and #3, sometimes I can't think of anything to say except what we are having for dinner, and honestly - how boring is that?!?!?! I recognize my own boring-ness and know no one cares if we are having grilled chicken and salad for dinner again...which, by the way, is actually what we are having tonight! I do send out good thoughts and hopes for those needing them and struggling with things right now.
Planted an additional 100 bulbs in my cutting garden and then we planted 8 holly trees and 6 magnolia trees by noon on Saturday. Luckily we have access to heavy equipment, otherwise it wouldn't be possible. Used the 'baby' excavator (we have a real small excavator hanging around and call it the 'baby' since most of our excavators are massive, required to be in two pieces to move with a superload permit to go down the road) for which we have auger attachments which made the work really quick. We also planted 3 very large trees Sunday - had to straight up dig holes about waist deep on my husband and about 2-3 feet wide and then lift them in with the tractor. Thankfully it rained last night and continues to rain now so I didn't have to put on the soakers today. We also removed the last few 300 feet of fence along the front of the property. This weekend, weather dependent, we will paint one of the barns. It's block, so shouldn't be to much of a hassle. Those are/were our major spring/early supper projects, so almost done. Garden is coming along well enough, as are the sunflower test plots. Will probably head out to lunch or early dinner at some point this weekend, maybe go get crabs. Youngest in doing the paperwork/in person stuff they have you do when you come off a deployment this week and we expect him home on or about Thursday. He'll be staying with us for 4? 8? 12? weeks as he transitions out of this last deployment and the Army Nat'l Guard and is busy applying for jobs. I know he doesn't want to be here any longer than he has to haha! He's actually already got a foot in the door w/ two nat'l security contractors what require the security clearances he has, so he's hoping that will work out. In the meantime I think he plans on a few weeks of R&R, or as he calls it, fishing.
I need to run to both Lowes & Sherwin Williams today to see who has the best paint for the barn, since we need something specific. Hoping they have enough, it comes in 5 gallon containers but haven't done the math yet to see exactly how much it is we need. I'm guessing 4 or 5 of the 5 gallon buckets.
No exciting plans for Memorial Day weekend, weather was looking good - now it's looking as if it could be a touch iffy here & there. But not the extreme heat we had last weekend at least.

Woke up just before 3am and I'm almost pain free!

That is awesome, pain can be so physically draining.

PCP is almost positive she has an auto immune disease and is thinking it may be lupus. She is trying not to worry until she knows for sure what it is, but May till July is a long time to sit and stew over it.

That stinks, maybe they can put her on a wait list in case they have a cancelation or something come up?

Thanks for asking about Grady! He’s doing great! He and Toto are getting along well,

Congrats on Grady! So glad the pups are getting on well, that is always a big worry for me. Good luck!

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Good morning.

Trying not to get as far behind. I have a shift at church today sitting at the Welcome Center. Hope to get to yoga this evening. Then the sad finale to This Is Us. Will be watching live this week as afraid I might get spoilers.

Woke up just before 3am and I'm almost pain free!

Glad to hear that. The spine doctor gave me Meloxicam and it did nothing for me but I have heard others who swear by it.

@footballmouse , YAY for starting exercising. It is hard to start.

I know we are both hoping for the same Survivor winner

I think I am wishing for the same one also. But except for Romeo, they are all deserving.

Where is BC? And what does PT at 3 mean?

BC is Boston College. And I have a physical therapy appt at 3 PM.

@Pea-n-Me , I forget. Is Grady a foster or yours now?

 

[Breezy_Carol]

@easyas123 , you snuck in on me.

Haven't posted much because #1 we've been busy, in a good way, around here #2 I don't have much to say! and #3, sometimes I can't think of anything to say except what we are having for dinner, and honestly - how boring is that?!?!?!

Same thing here, only I am busy with the grandkids.

is busy applying for jobs.

The Secret Service is always looking for new people. When DS was in recruiting, he went to military bases to try to recruit people separating from the military.

 

[easyas123]

The Secret Service is always looking for new people. When DS was in recruiting, he went to military bases to try to recruit people separating from the military.

That has been tossed around, as had the private security contractors...they are tossing around some hearty signing bonus terms. He's fortunate to be in a good position with several opportunities.

 

[Judique]

@Judique I’m glad you’ve gotten pain relief. We are seeing really good results with the Voltaren cream in the hospital, patients love it, and it was the one topical cream that really helped my mother with her tough arthritis, too. We went through the same thing with her with medications, for two years trying different ones, and the only thing that really worked for her without side effects was plain old Motrin. But we had to be very careful because she had a history of bleeding stomach ulcers, so it was always a balancing act between pain relief and side effects. But we worked it out, despite her pain getting worse the older she got. When my husband gets the cortisone shots, it sometimes takes two to get relief. But really glad to hear you feel better!

This is great information for me to hear! Thanks you!

I can easily take regular Motrin but the Motrin 800 I was offered makes me instantly toss whatever is down there. I told him don't bother.

A friend of mine had recommended the Voltaren just a day or so before my appointment.

I'm the stubborn kind - don't want to take anything unless a doctor is advising it and then not always 100% trusting the doctor, except my regular guy who I've been seeing since 1993. He knows what to expect from me. He actually may not know I've fallen - not sure I told him on my last visit. At first I was just waiting to feel better. I don't go often - just when something happens or the scheduled visits for wellbeing where I get my labs and aic papers to continue my meds.

 

[frog3101]

Hello and welcome to Tuesday. We once again have cooler temps and no sun. Think that will be the trend most of this week with rain coming in closer to the weekend. At least that is what they are saying at the moment.

@Pea-n-Me Hope that Grady and Toto are both doing well. Our outside dog is doing better but I can tell he still wonders where his friend is. My sons puppy lives inside most of time, but when we have him out, the dogs to play together, so that makes me happy that the outside dog still has a companion of some sort. Thanks to all who sent well wishes on the passing of our dog. He is missed.

@footballmouse you are a trooper to do all that work. I just called a friend this AM to see if she would be willing to walk through the new house with me once I can get in and give me some ideas. She has a great eye for stuff like that. My budget will be about zero, but I am hoping to at least paint and get some new hardware for the cabinets in the kitchen...just to freshen things up a bit.

@lynxstch hope that Mr. L's appointment goes well and you have a good afternoon. The offer to come whip my house into shape still stands if you ever need a change of scenery.

@Snowysmom I hope things are going ok for you. It is so hard to move forward sometimes. Hopefully after you take the trash out Wednesday you don't need to go back to the house again? The time for me to move out is getting close and I am not going handle that well I'm guessing. I've never loved living here, but it's where I started my marriage and have raised my kids so far, so there is a lot of sentiment here. I'm hoping to find things for my kids to do the day we do the "big" move as it's going to be stressful and I'm sure I'll be a wreck. They will already be dealing with enough, don't want to make them be here for that if they don't need to be.

Trying to get some paperwork taken care of and have started making lists of what I need to get for the new place and what I want to take from here. There are some things I've just decided I'm going to replace and not bother taking. I give such big kudos to anyone who has gone through this. I am exhausted.

Take care everyone.

 

[PollyannaMom]

@frog3101

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Big hug , Judique! Praise, praise God! Hooray that you are out of the pain you were horribly in yesterday Much prayer today truly becomes pain free for you, my friend. Thank God for the kind pharmacist, too. You are taking care of yourself which is exactly what we all want you to be doing!

Hug to you as well, PollyannaMom, sometimes days do have a way of turning on a dime don’t they? I truly hope today goes smoother for you. As you know and you are fun cats will attest to, there is joy in all. How is your DS doing?

It’s cool and gray here, too, Lynn. I would enjoy watching a garden of flowers grow . It sure is a blessing getting to help tend to Evergreen and seeing God continue to grow him. I look forward to seeing pictures of your (and all of you dear Quackers with yards) gardens and flowers. Prayers for Mr. L and your stepdaughter big-time, too!

Good for you, Footballmouse! I admire your spirit and courage to check out new classes. I do hope you come to enjoy being part of them and make a new friend as well. Go you handy lady! I was much more into my playmobile kids than Legos growing up although I do remember enjoying playing with a Lego castle dad built for me with the playmobile kids.

Hug, Pea, I’m grateful the same topical that is currently making a difference (hooray) to our friend Judique, also helped your mom. Please send some of those 90 degrees West to me! God Bless your neighbor! What a lovely friendship it sounds like you both have. Always, my friend and forever God is with us and knows our hearts (after all He made them) and what we most need and when. I thank Him for blessing your DS with peace in a going forward decision. Good for him! How sweet is Grady! He is sure becoming attached to his new family. He knows he is loved already and forever safe. Of course, God Bless, Toto!

Good to see you, Easyas! You just remember please that we care about YOU! It does matter to us to know you're okay. Do check in I'm glad all is well. Please thank your DS for his service from me. I will also keep him in prayer.

I thank you always for your church service, Carol I also thank, of course, your own DS for his service to our country as well. Enjoy your precious grandkids!

Frog. One step at a time. We all care!

It is indeed cool and gray here again. I am most thankful God gave me some extra cozy rest this morning that was most welcome. I found 3 versions of O Holy Night that come across as more quietly reverent than some versions. Martina McBride or Chris Tomlin or Faith Hill As an FYI, I really do like a lot of Chris Tomlin's worship music. I'm not much into country music in general. I do always smile when I hear Shania Twain's Still the One Yes, I am a romantic at heart. Which of these three versions of O Holy Night do each of you like best? Of course, can't go wrong with ANY version of such wondrous, blessed, NEWS!

Love to all and Happy Tuesday!

 

[PollyannaMom]

I found 3 versions of O Holy Night that come across as more quietly reverent than some versions. Martina McBride or Chris Tomlin or Faith Hill As an FYI, I really do like a lot of Chris Tomlin's worship music.

I think my overall favorite is the Chris Tomlin version as well. I really like the opening of Martina McBride's best, but the volume varies a lot between parts of the song, and that tends to bug me sometimes when I want music on in the background.

 

[easyas123]

I found 3 versions of O Holy Night that come across as more quietly reverent than some versions

Honestly - and remember, I'm not Christian so I am certainty no expert- that the Baroque period turned out some beautiful Christmas Carols and religious music. I'm partial to classical a bit anyway, and I find it soothing.

I'm right there with you on Country music, it makes my ears bleed!

 

[lynxstch]

Home from his appt..all went well but she ordered more blood work for tomorrow. Everytime his cardiologist adds new meds or adjusts old ones, he messes up the kidney numbers. If they aren't what she wants to see, she will call cardio and make him adjust something else..it just never ends

Gray and cloudy out, temp is only 60. Dinner will be leftover pork, kraut, potatoes, and asparagus
@easyas123 --nice to see you, I second what Mona said,,just check in now and then and let us know that you are doing well

Have a nice afternoon

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Thank you PollyannaMom and Easyas, too

Pollyannamom, I felt similarly. I thought the Martina McBride version began much more in keeping to my preference of quieter and as reverent as possible but then grew more contemporary in sound. I didn't much care for that. Another favorite Tomlin song is Holy is the Lord

Lol, Easyas on country music! As far as classical music, dad LOVES classical music and is so knowledgeable of it. I'm sincerely thankful it brings him such joy. I admit also not caring for it too much. I will always have the vague memory of dancing with dad as a very young child to the Blue Danube Waltz.

dear Lynn and I'm sorry. Poor Mr. L, too. Big prayers to you both!

It's warmed up here a dash anyway. I'll take it

 

[GeekzRus]

I guess you can say I am slowly trying to dig myself out of the black abyss. It has been a very long 3 years with constant aggressive cancer treatment for the youngling. About 4 months ago things started to take a change for the better which just feels like I am always wondering will it get worse again. He took his first WDW trip about 2 months ago and it def was some magic he needed. Dr's state if he remain to stay stable he can have a break from treatment for a bit or at least until a good clinical trial comes out that can get rid of stubborn tumors that are not dangerous at the moment due to help from his clinical trial but still malignant but can't be removed surgically. So about 4 more months until we can so no more treatment. We have been to 4 different States for his treatments up to this point. Have about a week until re-staging bone marrow biopsies, MIBG scans, CT Scan, MRI Scan. So yes my scanxiety is kicking in and doing my best to try and not fall back into the black abyss while I am slowly learning to come back to the land that is more than just medical health professionals

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Hug and prayers to you and your family, GeekzRus and welcome to our thread

 

[GeekzRus]

Hug and prayers to you and your family, GeekzRus and welcome to our thread

Thank you

 

[lynxstch]

Welcome to you @GeekzRus--thanks for joining in our thread. Sending prayers you way. Let us know how things progress

 

[GeekzRus]

Welcome to you @GeekzRus--thanks for joining in our thread. Sending prayers you way. Let us know how things progress

I will Scans and Biopsy in a little over a week. If everything looks good will be booking our trip for end of treatment and his birthday. Technically he would be finished in September but Birthday is in November so figure celebrate both at the same time.

 

[Snowysmom]

Frog Thoughts and prayers to you as you move into a new home. It is hard to leave the old home but you have your kids to help you get settled and a good friend to help with ideas.

Judique Glad you are out of pain. I will have to remember Voltaren.

Pea-n-me I hope the doggies are doing well. How is Grady doing with the change?

I find I am very sad lately. Younger DS offered to go to the house tomorrow to meet with the agent and take out the trash. He said he will do it for me. He knows how said I am to leave the house and strangely enough the birds. I feel bad I am not feeding the birds any more. I told my DS I wish I kept the house just to feed the birds. Illogical of course. At least it is spring and they will have things to eat. By the time winter comes again the birds and other small animals will have found some place else to eat. There are already less birds and small animals so I think they have begun finding new places to feed.

Grandbaby Sam is doing well. His older sisters and brother adore him and want to hold him all the time.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Home from his appt..all went well but she ordered more blood work for tomorrow. Everytime his cardiologist adds new meds or adjusts old ones, he messes up the kidney numbers. If they aren't what she wants to see, she will call cardio and make him adjust something else..it just never ends

Gray and cloudy out, temp is only 60. Dinner will be leftover pork, kraut, potatoes, and asparagus
@easyas123 --nice to see you, I second what Mona said,,just check in now and then and let us know that you are doing well

Have a nice afternoon

It's a delicate balancing act, with multiple medications. DH is starting a med to help him with some depression, and it interacts negatively with one of his immunosupprescents; and another med to help with insomnia, that interacts with that same immunosupprescent...faint risks, but they are still there.
At least the Cardio and neph are speaking for your DH! I don't know what the situation is, but if he has kidney issues, he needs to avoid starfruit! It has a neurotoxin that passes through the kidneys, if the are healthy; but if there are kidney issues, it builds up, causing hiccups, mental confusion, then seizures and death.

I guess you can say I am slowly trying to dig myself out of the black abyss. It has been a very long 3 years with constant aggressive cancer treatment for the youngling. About 4 months ago things started to take a change for the better which just feels like I am always wondering will it get worse again. He took his first WDW trip about 2 months ago and it def was some magic he needed. Dr's state if he remain to stay stable he can have a break from treatment for a bit or at least until a good clinical trial comes out that can get rid of stubborn tumors that are not dangerous but still malignant but can't be removed surgically. So about 4 more months until we can so no more treatment. We have been to 4 different States for his treatments up to this point. Have about a week until re-staging bone marrow biopsies, MIBG scans, CT Scan, MRI Scan. So yes my scanxiety is kicking in and doing my best to try and not fall back into the black abyss while I am slowly learning to come back to the land that is more than just medical health professionals

Welcome to the chat. It's always rough when a loved one is sick, and doubly so when it's a young one.

Anyone else I missed I will catch up. Dealing with my husbands leg has really stressed me out. Thankfully we see his cardiologist tomorrow. My daughter and the foot doctor are fairly certain his one med is causing the issues. It has a known side effect of edema and we did see him once before about it. Living with a yoyo diabetic who has cardiac issues and a history of strokes is not easy. He wants me to go to Disney solo in the fall and I am debating it. My husband calls me a martyr and in a way he may be right.

My spouse says the same thing about me, sometimes. I get too focused on everyone else's needs, and forget about my own. We caregivers need to remember that we need to take care of us too.

----------
Stay strong Frog! It's hard, but you will make it through.
Snowy, the same to you. Take as much time as you need to adjust to your new place.

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My sis passed about 3pm my time. Her kids were all there with her; her grandkids too. The kids are taking Dsis and bil's ashes up to Colorado this summer, and scattering them in a few places up in the mountains that are special to our family. I'm going to send some flowers or something to the kids today. DH is coming home a couple hours early from work, to hold my hand. I'm ok,though; I had my 'hard cry' yesterday, so today is just little tears. She was 11 years older than me; 3rd of us 5 kids. Now it's just my oldest sis (15 years older, whom I don't have any contact with), my brother (10 years older) and me.


I got the front yard mowed this am. I could have done the backyard too (it's much much smaller) but I was wiped. It was 79 (real feel 85) and I swear it felt like I was pushing the mower through a swimming pool; the weather felt so thick and wet! If it doesn't rain this afternoon/tonight, I'll do the back yard tomorrow; otherwise I'll put it off until Thursday.

The LL is looking for a new fridge for us, finally. I had to send them photos of the fridge and the model info three times this past week; so frustrating!

DS is coming home next month. DD#2 couldn't get him registered to live with them (he's not a dependent for them), and they were told he couldn't stay. So I have to clean out his room (I had everything stored in there, lol), so that's a project for this weekend. DH needs to put the curtain in that room and in the hall bath (which we aren't using, but he will need it); there are blinds but I like to have the secondary curtain over them to help with coverage. DS is starting to apply at some jobs in our area, and over by DH's work already.

----------------------------------------------------
I have some tilapia thawing, to make DH for dinner, along with some salad (have to get it made, because of the freezer issues). I was going to cook me some Italian sausage and onions, and mix it with some pasta and parm and a little tomato paste, and some salad; we'll see if I get that far. Tomorrow, I'm making a cabbage and pork stir fry, with some zucchini noodles added in (that i have to use up).

anyways, I'm going to go get some prep done for dinner, to make it easier later to cook. (chop veggies, etc). Y'all have a good night.

 

[Judique]

It's a delicate balancing act, with multiple medications. DH is starting a med to help him with some depression, and it interacts negatively with one of his immunosupprescents; and another med to help with insomnia, that interacts with that same immunosupprescent...faint risks, but they are still there.
At least the Cardio and neph are speaking for your DH! I don't know what the situation is, but if he has kidney issues, he needs to avoid starfruit! It has a neurotoxin that passes through the kidneys, if the are healthy; but if there are kidney issues, it builds up, causing hiccups, mental confusion, then seizures and death.

Welcome to the chat. It's always rough when a loved one is sick, and doubly so when it's a young one.


My spouse says the same thing about me, sometimes. I get too focused on everyone else's needs, and forget about my own. We caregivers need to remember that we need to take care of us too.

----------
Stay strong Frog! It's hard, but you will make it through.
Snowy, the same to you. Take as much time as you need to adjust to your new place.

-------------------------------------------
My sis passed about 3pm my time. Her kids were all there with her; her grandkids too. The kids are taking Dsis and bil's ashes up to Colorado this summer, and scattering them in a few places up in the mountains that are special to our family. I'm going to send some flowers or something to the kids today. DH is coming home a couple hours early from work, to hold my hand. I'm ok,though; I had my 'hard cry' yesterday, so today is just little tears. She was 11 years older than me; 3rd of us 5 kids. Now it's just my oldest sis (15 years older, whom I don't have any contact with), my brother (10 years older) and me.


I got the front yard mowed this am. I could have done the backyard too (it's much much smaller) but I was wiped. It was 79 (real feel 85) and I swear it felt like I was pushing the mower through a swimming pool; the weather felt so thick and wet! If it doesn't rain this afternoon/tonight, I'll do the back yard tomorrow; otherwise I'll put it off until Thursday.

The LL is looking for a new fridge for us, finally. I had to send them photos of the fridge and the model info three times this past week; so frustrating!

DS is coming home next month. DD#2 couldn't get him registered to live with them (he's not a dependent for them), and they were told he couldn't stay. So I have to clean out his room (I had everything stored in there, lol), so that's a project for this weekend. DH needs to put the curtain in that room and in the hall bath (which we aren't using, but he will need it); there are blinds but I like to have the secondary curtain over them to help with coverage. DS is starting to apply at some jobs in our area, and over by DH's work already.

----------------------------------------------------
I have some tilapia thawing, to make DH for dinner, along with some salad (have to get it made, because of the freezer issues). I was going to cook me some Italian sausage and onions, and mix it with some pasta and parm and a little tomato paste, and some salad; we'll see if I get that far. Tomorrow, I'm making a cabbage and pork stir fry, with some zucchini noodles added in (that i have to use up).

anyways, I'm going to go get some prep done for dinner, to make it easier later to cook. (chop veggies, etc). Y'all have a good night.

Sorry for the loss of your sister. I'm fortunate to still have all my siblings (4 brothers) with my oldest half brother almost 10 years older than I. Youngest is 63 this year and all seem to have their health scares at times but make it through. No one lives close.

Hopefully your DS will have a job shortly. Don't envy you finding places for the spare room stuff. I've considered an addition just to keep all my stuff!!!
I have the spare room filled to the brim with mostly discards right now. Must make a Goodwill run and drop off stuff.

Then, when school is out I'll have my grands for Mondays and Tuesdays, until school starts in the fall, maybe 10 weeks including beach trips. Mom works from home Wednesday and Thursday, and then on Friday another friend is willing to fill in but that is maybe 5-6 times. Sounds disjointed but it's short term and kindergarten in fall for youngest, with aftercare at Park and Planning close to their home. Oldest went this year and loved it. They have loads of planned activities including swimming in an excellent facility. School bus brings them and Mom picks up by 6.

We are having flank steak already marinated from Costco. No prep in kitchen while I battle the ants. That's going well, based on the feeding frenzy at the bait stations on the day I put them out. I've gathered up almost all but now I want to soap down the entire area and with my doctor and pharmacy visits and arm care, exercises, and icing have set me back a bit, so don't want food on the counters at all. Tomorrow if I still feel well.