My mom gets to go home on her birthday, which is next Weds. the 14th of May. She should stay longer but she is too homesick and my dad misses her beyond belief. They remind me of swans.
Anyway, they need groceries and the grass needs mowed. They don't see the urgency in anything anymore, but I do. My sweet daughter jenn4him is helping all that she can. I am so thankful for her loving heart.
I am listening to a cd on Psalm 23 by Harold Kushner. It helps quiet my troubled soul on the forty minute drive to and from their home.
Mom is still in the rehab center and is now struggling with C Diff bacterial infection. She has had a time of it! She does not want to use a walker and insists that she can go to the bathroom by herself with the aid of a wheelchair and the bar on the side of the wall by the toilet. Of course, the nurses and aids do not want her to walk on her own...but, she does not like to wait for them to come and help...
She also does not want physical therapy as it hurts her right leg. So, I don't know where we are going from here. She is frustrating the therapists - that's for sure. She is sure that once her C Diff is cleared up she will be going home.
She is still dizzy too.
Dad misses her. He is so independent and decided that he is more comfortable at their home alone than with us. I worry about him. He is lost without her.
I'm tired. This is her first week, so maybe next week things will get better. I thank you all who have stopped by my blog. I am not able to visit yours right now and pray that you understand.
I will away from blogging with you all for awhile, as my mom is in a rehabilitation center and dad is staying with us. Mom fell and hit her head while entering a grocery near them and went to the emergency room for stitches. She came home and was okay until this past Monday when she was too dizzy to walk. We took her back to the hospital and now she is in a rehabilitation center for awhile, at least three weeks.
Dad is staying with us until we figure out what is what. I don't want him by himself. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we go through this process of getting mom well again. It's hard to be the decision maker but I love her very much and am doing what is best. I will post updates as I can.
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I'm in the mood for cakes today. I know that 4th of July cakes are stretching it a bit, but summer will be here before we know it. The retro cakes are selling in our bakery. I cannot remember why brown was so popular way back then...I do remember orange shag carpet in our living room.
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In our home, we are taking the Environmental Protection Agency's advice on how to Go Green by replacing our traditional light bulbs with compact florescent bulbs. We are told by the EPA that to do this saves around $30.00 in energy costs per bulb's lifetime and that CFL bulbs generate 70% less heat which makes them safer to operate than traditonal bulbs.
Okay, so now I learn that CFL bulbs contain small amounts of mercury. Did you know that? Dropping a CFL bulb can release toxic amounts of mercury into your home. Disgarding it in the trash, which eventually finds its way to a landfill can also release toxic mercury fumes into our environment. So now, how am I helping our world Go Green?
According to "All Things Considered", February 15th, 2008, on NPR, our government is now working on a solution as to how we can safely disgard CFL bulbs after they have burned out. Currently there are not enough collection sights available to take them, and curb side recycling businesses will not take them. The EPA is working with large stores, such as WalMart to create recyling sights for these energy saving bulbs.
My biggest worry is what do we do when a CFL bulb breaks in our home? The toxic mercury fumes are most harmful to small children and pets. Mankind takes two steps forward and one step back in a effort to Go Green and save money.
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My dad turned 88 years old this past Tuesday, but he thinks he is 90! I guess that's how I'll be if I live that long. I see my dad as a solid rock imbedded in an old river bed, high above the other rocks and pebbles. Water rushes over him and slowly, ever so slowly, bends him to its will, layers smoothing down with time. Other pebbles and rocks around him are picked up by the water and swept away down the stream, but my dad rock remains solid and still.
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Recently, I got all excited when reading in our local fish wrapper about how to save money at the gas station. Gas prices are fluctuating all over our dear country and we are baring the brunt of it.
One suggestion that I wanted to try was to fill my gas tank up before 10 am on Thursday, according to GasBuddy.com, because prices start climbing when travelers fill up for the weekend. My current habit is to fill up my gas guzzler at Sam's Club or Costco.
I checked the BP's price (right down the road from our bakery) on last Thursday morning before 10 am and it was $3.26. As I was driving by Sam's Club that same morning, I slowed down and saw that they were offering their "liquid gold" for only $3.11. I filled up my tank at Sam's Club. Driving home that afternoon I saw that BP's price was still $3.26.
Have you all noticed, in your neighborhoods, the trend of gas prices spiraling out of control for weekend travel? Do you fill your gas tanks up on Thursdays? I think I will stay with my habit.
" Father, when all other things have passed away;, three things remain: faith, hope, and love." I Cor. 13:13.
I would like to thank those of you who have sent wishes and prayers my way. I still need them.
Saturday, I gave my 88 year old father a real homecooked meal as a birthday present. The menu: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, buttered carrots, cole slaw, deviled eggs, drinks, and birthday cake. This man was raised on a farm and loves to eat food that reminds him of his boyhood days on a 1930's farm.
Unfortunately, mom & dad live in a heated infernal. They have their furnace set at 82 degrees and wear sweaters. I keep a pair of shorts at their home. Back to Saturday: the heat from the oven, plus a warm sunny day did me in. If my wonderful daughter, jenn4him, had not called and asked to come over to celebrate her grandpa's birthday I don't know what I would have done. I could not pull dad's birthday luncheon off without her help, and did not realize this until I was overcome with heat and had to sit outside for awhile (it was a wonderful 60 degrees outside). Jenn kept on working, bless her sweet heart. Dad was so happy with his present.
Mom, who can hardly walk now and wants to help, but in her tiny, "heatstroke" of a kitchen she got in the way. It was like taking two steps forward then one step back trying to get things done with her. I know for sure that I am so grateful to have her and I am not complaining (I hope I do not sound too whiney to you), but I wanted to post how difficult it is now for ME to walk. My life is changing daily and I do not know where I am headed with this disease. Big worry: now that warmer weather is coming, I do not know how I am going to manage staying with them on Saturdays.
"Father, by faith in the name of Jesus, make me strong. Help me to realize that it is Jesus's name and the faith that comes through Him that heal me." Acts 3:16.
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Ryan turned 10 years old last month and we had him at our home for his sleepover this past weekend. We enjoyed the time spent with him. His Granddaddy plays a good game of chess and Ryan knew he was in for a challenge, but he hung in there and learned some very interesting manuevers.
We tried to stay active outside and for the most part we succeeded. When his daddy came to pick him up after work, one tired Nana kissed her "Perfect 10" grandson goodbye and took a nap!
"Hold me Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for You are the one I praise. How I celebrate the fact that You have not run away from being my shepherd; You have not desired the day of despair." (Jer. 17:14,16)
"Lord, please help me to revere Your name. You have promised that if I do, the sun of rightousness will rise with healing in its wings and I will go out and leap like a calf released from the stall." (Mal. 4:2)
Tuesday I did something very foolish. I wore sandals that my DH had spent a large amount of time stretching so that I could wear them. I did not bring my old sandals to work with me (something that I always do out of caution) because I felt good and also felt that the new ones were really stretched out. The stinging nerve pain took over by midday but I continued to work. I ignored the signs. My DH wanted me to go home, but out of pride I guess I stayed. I mistakenly thought that I could control it, that it would not control me. By evening I could hardly breath, because the EM went inside my body and I could feel the stinging nerve pain in my lungs (they swelled up). My DH fixed dinner and I did not move from the couch until it was time for bed.
Yesterday, I went to work even though I felt so worn out, so drained of energy. I gave up and went home midmorning. I stayed on the couch and watched "Sense and Sensibility" and slept until DH came home.
Today, I feel better. My hands, knees, and feet are stinging but not like Tuesday. I have renewed energy but am so very cautious. I know now that I cannot control this disease. I do not know if it will get worse in the future, just feel so helpless today. This is why I ask for your wonderful prayers. I need help, and the only answer is of course to pray.
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My DH and I had the three little ones over on a Saturday evening so that Jenn and her DH could have a date night with friends from church. My DH knew that I would have a busy day that Saturday taking care of my dear parents and was ready with all kinds of fun ideas to help entertain our small guests.
We have a Kids Kareoke channel on our cable and so everyone got a chance to sing their song. DH decided to sing "I'm A Little Tea Pot" which was so funny to watch. These photos do not do his antics justice. Fortunately for me, no one recorded my rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."
I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend. I wish safe travels for all.
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Today's S&T is about a bakery product that we have sold to our bakery customers during Lent for years and years. The hot cross bun is a traditional food eaten after Fat Tuesday and also on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. We make a sweet fondant icing and then pipe a Cross onto each and every hot cross bun. The Cross symbolizes the crucifixion of Jesus. I know from personal experience that piping the Cross on dozens and dozens of buns gives one time to reflect on the journey that Christ made in our names.
The hot cross bun's recorded history dates back to the early 1700's when town criers in Christian Europe would sing the song "Hot Cross Buns" hours before sunup during Lent to remind townspeople to feed their children a good meal, as they practiced fasting during daylight hours. A hot cross bun was considered a good source of food as it contained fruit, nuts, and the goodness of whole grains. Below is the song "Hot Cross Buns":
Hot cross buns,
Hot cross buns,
one ha' penny,
two ha' penny,
hot cross buns.
If you have no daughters,
give them to your sons,
one ha' penny,
two ha' penny,
Hot Cross Buns
As a child, I used to jump rope to this song without knowing it's meaning. I found this song on Wikipedia. If you would like to see its version in entireity or read more about hot cross buns please click on the highlighted link.
Welcome to Canadagirl 's Tightwad Tuesday. To join us, please click on her highlighted blog name. Today I want to share more money saving information from Heloise. "Hints from Heloise" has helped me stay informed on ways to clean for pennies on the dollar for literally decades. I used to read her syndicated newspaper column and now visit her website; always find something new. Below she has updated some ways to make our cleaning tasks easier while not taxing our budgets.
Heloise Hint Updates Many of us use hints passed down from our mothers or grandmothers. They may not be valid today. Products have changed so much that there may be better or different ways of using or caring for them. Here are the latest:
Ballpoint-Ink Stain
THEN: Hairspray
NOW: Rubbing alcohol
Ink formulations, fabrics, and hairspray ingredients have changed today. To get rid of the ballpoint ink from clothing you launder, place the garment on a towel stain-side down. Lightly dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol and gently dab (do not rub) the stain.
Candle Wax on Carpet
THEN: Towel and iron
NOW: Ice and a metal pan
Put ice cubes into a metal pan. Place it right on top of the candle wax until the wax is frozen solid. With a small hammer, hit the wax to break it up. Pick up the pieces. Then apply dry-cleaning solvent on a clean cloth to remove any leftover residue.
Blue Jean Washing
THEN: Soak in salt or vinegar and water to stop dye from running.
NOW: Laundry products today are geared to help keep the colors dark. Denim is now manufactured with modern dyes.
Microwave Cleaning
THEN: Vinegar or baking soda and water
NOW: Any citrus (lemon, lime or orange)
Put a 4-cup capacity microwave-safe bowl filled with chopped citrus and 1 cup of water. Since microwave wattage varies, cook until the water boils. CAUTION: To prevent being scalded, let the water cool for at least 15 minutes before opening the door to wipe out the microwave.
Today I am mending from a very stressful Saturday. I did not post about it because I did not have the energy to sit at the computer. I feel so much better today and need to figure out how to NOT get into that situation again. The situation that I am talking about is stressing over the drama that surrounds my dear mother's decline in mental health. It's so hard to put it all down in print.
I talked to my DH about what happened on Saturday at my parents home and his words were so healing, so supportive. I was scheduled to babysit our dear grandchildren Saturday evening and just knew that without his support I would have to call Jenn and cancel because I was so depleted of energy from spending the day at their home. My DH is struggling with a health issue and does not have his normal energy either, but he was able to rest Saturday and told me that he wanted us to babysit Saturday evening, not to cancel. I was so thankful to him. Whithout his help we could not have done it.
I feel better today. My body does not sting all over and I can breath normally. I am calling Mom today to see if she is making a doctor's appt. I may need to take her if Dad is not feeling okay. Please say a prayer for her and me. She is so diffucult to be with when she is in her "second" personality mode.
I am not a home educator, but am very proud of my daughter, jenn4him, who homeschools my three precious grandchildren. I admire you all. Thank you all for being a source of inspiration.
Blessings,
Mama Karen
