Hello Again

 Once again I have been missing. It has been a bit of  rough time of it. Let me first update you on Jack's health. The weekend after Christmas he ended up in hospital for two weeks and had just over 20 pounds of fluids removed. That was a bit unnerving as he was having low oxygen. After church one Sunday, our priest and his wife and some dear friends came for a visit. And a dear person who works at the hospital has become my crochet buddy and dear friend. Father Michael also prayed with a nurse having a rough day and gave us communion.

Jack was back in hospital for a week the first part of February for a UTI brought on by self cathing as ordered by his urologist since is bladder is barely working now. More on that in a bit. He came home and within a little over a week he was back with a blood sugar of over 500 and a very serious uti requiring very strong antibiotics as well as a broken ankle. The decision was also made that a wearing a catheter bag was a better option. We also learned he has congestive heart failure and that because of the disc disease he will eventually lose use of his legs and it is the cause of the bladder issues. Happily except for an observation stay overnight after a fall he is home and getting stronger. We have a wheelchair for bad days or treacherous walking situations. He is also having skin issues which we will see a dermatologist for that. And he had a procedure which has gotten him off the blood thinners. I think that is all for now. Let's go onto happier news.

Our 2007 Camry was beginning to have issues and I need a reliable car for out of town doctor visits for Jack. We went to Roper Kia in Joplin Mo. and were treated so very well! We came home with a 2022 Kia Soul with less than 60,000 miles. They dropped the price on it by 3,000 dollars and gave us 3,000 dollars for our car, a 1,000 dollars for sales tax and a 75,000 mile warranty. We love our Kia!

Bozz is doing well and full of himself as usual.

We enjoyed our first bbq this year.

And yes we are still being crafty. Bad days for Jack I do not get much or sometimes anything done but still crocheting.

So that is the update. We walk a tightrope of trying to keep Jack as healthy as possible and fight thru the not so good days. I am hopeful I can keep up better now with everyone. I will do my best!

Pardon the absense

 My friends I am sorry it has been so long since you heard from me last. I began getting ill the last of Feb.. It steadily got worse and I spent many nights sitting up in great pain in my bladder and back. I finally got to thinking one night in July and realized I had started a new medicine in Feb., so I stopped taking it as it was not any thing that would harm me to do so. Within a few days I began to get better and am now back to myself thankfully. The doctor said it was affecting my kidneys. Enough about me!

Jack had a pretty good year until recently. In August we learned he has stage 3 kidney disease and has his first appointment with a nephrologist this coming week. Then in September his left leg swelled up, developed blisters and weeping quickly and scared us greatly! We called the doctor and started wound care that Monday once a week. We also had two visits a week for iron infusions as his iron was terribly low. All done with that now. He sees the wound doctor again later this month and may well be discharged from that as things are much better now. We also have a visit for Jack to a cardiologist as a precaution as the leg my be just a side effect of the kidney disease or could be congestive heart failure. Jack also has a terribly itchy, painful rash from the kidney issues. So it has kept me busy caring for him, Bozz, me and our home. However we are enjoying our selves!

Now for good and enjoyable things! Jack turned 70 the first of October. I took him to a restaurant in a town near by for his birthday. The dear people and customers sang happy birthday to him. He ws pleasantly surprised!

I also got Jack a lovely cross stitch for his birthday!

The Saturday before his birthday we went to Great Vespers at church and enjoyed the moonrise in a parking lot here in town before tucking in here at home.

We have a lovely batch of flowers this year and will be doing some work out front now the weather has cooled.

I am still working away on crocheting and stitching for others and a hat for me from "It Was Yarn"! And Jack is busy happily also.

Bozz is just, well, Bozz!

We are just living our lives leaving all in the Lord's hands! No worries just pushing ahead and taking life as it comes for good or bad! We are happy and blessed beyond measure and thankful too! Now good bye for now and I will try and visit other bloggers this coming week. Huggles and blessings.

A little talk and some crafts

 For those wondering how Jack is doing. That often depends on the day. some days are a struggle to walk due to balance issues and back pain as well. Those days are for more stitching and sitting hobbies. Other days are better and he can help with dishes and other chores. He also loves playing with Bozz kitty and laughing at his silliness. That silly cat is often full of so much energy and orneriness it isn't funny. Jack always uses a walker when leaving the apartment an I drive now as it is painful for him. All in all, we are thankful for so much and so blessed. I often have little projects to do for others and that is a joy. I am thankful for the lovely neighbors around us and our little apartment that is so easy to care for! Now, on to some crafty stuff we have been up to!

Yarn for a heavy cardigan for next winter for myself. I got the yarn at a very good sale price so that was good.

Doing an icon of the Protection of the Theotokos for our Priest's wife.

A poncho for those crisp days that is now finished.

A Christmas table toper for a friend.

Jack;s latest baby quilt for a friend.

An afghan waiting to be finished some day.

So here we are in our sweet little hometown and apaprtment doing the best we can, going to church as often as we can and just living our lives the best we can! Blessings and huggles!

Our Little Home

 

 I thought I would share pictures of our little home furnished. It has been stressful trying to settle in. We had to give up a lot including furniture and a lot of our hobby things. I had a hard time letting go of my gateleg table but it was sold at good Samaritan's even before we left. I was able to tell the lady who bought it a little of what I know of it. Now I am at a place where I am very content, and happy here. It is so easy to care for, we have good neighbors and a wonderful community as well. So without further ado, enkjoy the pictures of our little one bedroom haven. We are eager to finish up our little garden patch when it warms up!

Thanks for stopping by!