A New Knee

Well hello all of you dear hearts out there.

Today was an interesting and educational day.

After the children were off to school and the morning rest I went to visit my sister in the hospital.

She had her second knee replacement surgery Yesterday. The hospital is 25 miles one way. A beautiful drive where the surrounding mountains are close and the vast desert valley open to view. 

This hospital was more like a 4 star hotel. The public toilet even had the toilet paper roll folded to a point! Beautiful place only 60 beds all set for knee replacements. This doctor is the number one in the nation for the procedure. She and I have the same insurer only my benefits are better even than hers. We are so blessed.

This morning I had a flush of a reality hit me while standing in my master closet. I groaned out a "I'm not wanting this Lord"...then the flush was pass and the fear gone. Folks last Thursday my x ray showed that the right knee is now bone on bone. For the last four years I have been receiving synvisc injections, the first time only in the right knee. The goal has been to hold out as long as I can for the kids to get older and more self sufficient.

Standing there I knew within me 'it is time'. What a strange place I am in. My spirit has complete peace even a bit of excitement at the thought of living pain free in my knee. I understand that knee replacement is one of the worst pain producing surgeries one can have. My heart does flutter with the apprehension of what I will be up for . It is great courage that I will earn this knee :)

We are thinking of June after we take the kids to Disneyland (Lord and finance willing). That will give me time to heal before Doves first year of Jr. High. Up and able (hopefully) by July or so to take the kids to a pool.

The time to lose weight is NOW! so I must bring in all diligence and discipline.

The times or in His hands. There is a time for everything. Knee replacement will be coming soon it appears.

Meal Plan Monday

Hello

click on images to enlarge them

Good evening, it looks like life is becoming a bit more of a good pace for me now. My immune system is getting stronger as my numbers continue to increase. My lymphatic system is healing so that it can create more mature lymph.

 Were just sitting down the two of us at our own computers to chill out. The kids are asleep and the dishwasher hums in the back ground.

Recently several lemons were gifted me. 

This is the process used to get the most out of them.

 Be sure to avoid the white it is bitter. 

These are diced or added and then removed from a sauce or recipe.

 Nothing wasted this is the great way to clean a sink and garbage disposal

 Now for the fine scrape it is used for dishes that keep the rind in them.

Juice is then squeezed for lemon aid by adding a simple syrup.

Wedges of lemon added to make the flavor rise.

Juice is saved for other uses. Rinds are frozen.

All from a few lemons and a little simple sryup.

Simple syrup add sugar to boiling water and dissolve store for various uses.

This is great for drinks or things that need a sweet without a spoon to stir it.

How to make a cover for CPAP Machine

 Hi

Today the issue of the condensation on the tubing is addressed. 

Tonight I will not get water up my nose in the middle of the night. 

I posted over at A Place to Create the process.
come over and check it out

My hopes are that every one is having a restful pleasant Sunday.

Be Blessed.

Garden progress

Visit over here at Bee Bliss Gardens Blog for a tour of what is up.

 bachelor buttons are making a show too

The poppy's are coming soon.

just two of the jobs in prosess

 My dress

Dash's quilt.
Posted the process over at A Place To Create Blog

All the quilting is done.
I was able to get the beaded fringe on the dress.

 I have been hand stitching the boarder on all evening.
Dash watched with gratitude and excitement.
About 5/8 around tonight time to go to bed.
Sleep sweet all of you dear souls out there.

On Parenting an ill special needs child

First off thank you for your prayers for Dove.

The retching started up Wednesday again a pattern was emerging. When she was stressed it would get worse. Not too unlike any of us really. It was as if it was expected of her somehow. As I observed and focused on the stillness that holds answers within the most inner part of me. I began to see something, but then it lit up again. So I just stepped back and watched. When Steve got home and sat in the living room, then Dash came in and sat on the air mattress it started up again.

Correcting Dash the discussed looks at Dove, he caught on.

Steve had little of it and demanded a trip to the urgent care to get some help. So it went tough really. Steve became a bit annoyed that Dove was being a wet noodle, calling to much on me to physically assist her. She stood against the exit to go to the Urgent Care Doc. Gave me all kinds of fit. I think I have learned that by just acknowledging..."ya, I know I wouldn't want to go either but we need to go."

That did not stop the verbal battle but she wanted to go with me not Dad. I said to her..." you can either go with me or dad but you need  to go. She chose me at dad became the target of the teenage..."I hate you your so mean" poor guy.

She verbally refused all the way to the place, retching and vomiting (seemingly so). I think that she was so mad that she was even upsetting her constitution. Leaving her nearby in the car I went in to ask if they could receive her. Telling them what they were up for. We got there and they helped us in promptly as too not spread it in the lobby. The triage nurse went to MOP's (moms of preschoolers) at a church we attended when Dove was little. She recognized us.

She was a big help. Although ignorant about the way to address the issues. It is so hard with the kid sitting right there. Dove is not a stupid or dense kid, just a wonderful 13 year old going on 8 at times, with a social cognitive issue and anxiety disorder.

"can she understand, can she speak?" asked the nurse. Yes...

Then the odd looks one gets, like a pity or a....well adoption is an open heart not one that is as prone to expect perfection. Knowing that no child on earth is perfect.

Anyway :) we gave her a shot of fenagrin to stop the retching cycle. She has a sinus infection too. That is what Steve and I suggested before I took her to the ER on Monday night. ER doc...

Post script...sorry so busy over here 

Wednesday night she slept in our room. She let out a little retch and I said "Stop"!

To which she responded "what?"

"Oh No this will not start up again, don't even let it go there.  Keep it from starting Dove"

but to ease the anxiety we made it all very calming for her. The cycle broke bless God. She slept 16 hours! I began to get concerned and went to check her again she was awake in the rest room and had started her period. Poor kid. Perhaps PMS could of played a part in all of this.

She stayed home Thursday but I insisted she sit up on the sofa and encouraged foods. By days end a real turn around. She had finally left the sofa while we were out getting my knee injections.

We left her and Dash home for the 45 minutes we were gone.

As soon as we settled me on the sofa I had Steve help me by removing any and all signs of her being sick in the living room.

Out of sight out of mind. Out of mind out of anxiety. IT WORKED!

She went to school Friday. Mid day I called the nurse at the school to have her call Dove up to office to tend to hygienic needs. This to stave  off the anxiety of having the bathroom door kicked in (yes it happens now). School bathrooms are the one danger place for kids.

Now I am not really sure whether she had flu or not. I now she was sick a 103* was very high. The illness was not faked at all.

It was her reaction to it. 

 The anxiety that caused the every 30 second retching. Once it began she could not stop it. I sorta wonder if she thought she needed to puke just because that ER doc said that she would be soon. She began the retch right after while we were being discharged. It all worked out. I just think it important to share the knowledge with other moms.

WE HAD TO Remove the cycle of retching with meds for she could not stop it on her own.

Kept the anxiety as low as I could by using verbiage about how glad I was that she would feel so much better.

Told her how well she was going to sleep.

Spoke often at how this will only last a short while and will be over soon.

Removed any sign of illness once she was better.

I hope that this might be of help to others

Be Blessed

The retching may be anxiety

 It stopped for almost 20 minutes until brother came in to watch tv. I could not give her any more of the nausea med and it did not work today.

I tried some Motrin for the muscle and the clonopin for her anxiety. 

IT WORKED!

It worked!

IT WORKED 

IT WORKED 

IT 

WORKED!!!!!!!!!!!

oh by the way "it worked"!

that was a day and a half of retching every 30-45 seconds

The doc just called to have me give her another anti nausea med.,

and to try to fit her in. We just skirted a 22 mile drive one way with a sick kid, a nausea kid who gets car sick on a good day. Bless God for insight and a Mothers intuition. Just wish it would of accrued to me earlier. When I got on line retching was in some a physiological condition. Dove has a special need of a anxiety issue.

She has only done it perhaps 3 times in the last half hour...oh I hope that I did not speek too soon. Oh I do hope not to have an ER visit tonight.

Dove is Retching every 30 seconds!

After doing a little research I discovered that kids with panic disorders will do this. I have tried a half of to dissolved clonopin.

Retching is a process in the human body where gastric (and sometimes duodenal) contents are forced into the esophagus, but do not enter the pharynx. Retching usually precedes vomiting, when the upper esophageal sphincter remains closed. If the upper oesophageal sphincter is open, vomiting occurs. It is usually caused by a bad smell or choking. Retching involves a deep inspiration against a closed glottis. This, along with contraction of the abdomen leads to a pressure difference between the abdominal and thoracic cavities. As a result, the stomach and gastric contents are displaced upwards towards the thoracic cavity


It seams to have slowed. I am awaiting the doctors call back. The nurse has NO openings to get her back in. I do think it may be her special needs condition. It is doing a little better.

Help! 

 Does anyone with special needs kids have this happen when they get sick!

Hypothermia

Dang! I awoke with such a shiver from being on the floor last night. I was on an air mattress with good blankets too. I think it was the c-pap blowing the cool air into me. Sleep only came after 1a.m. or so. I was cold in the night, very. So tired I did not get up except to reach for my snuggy off of Dove who was above me on the sofa. I remember being curled up in a tight ball all night. 
Once finally falling asleep the morning came with Dash waking me at 6:45 or so. I was so cold it hurt! Thinking I might be feverish I took my temperature 94.*! 
I looked it up on line and it said that I had mild hypothermia.Any thing below 95.* is mild wow how weird!
Yesterdays coffee warmed and hot water on my hands. After tending to the kids and getting back from the bus stop for Dash my temperature is now 95.9*. So I am sitting here trying to warm myself up. Sorta feeling a bit confused and dizzy. I think it is from being so cold. What a weird thing to happen. I guess the air mattress must of displaced cold off of the floor. That with the c-pap cold air. This hot coffee is good. My face still feels cold. I'd get a hot shower but she needs me not to be away too long. She is within a close distance now on the sofa. I have my Russia pants on and a coat. It is not cold in here at all. Desert rats do get a cold in winter can get up to mid 60's in the day and 38 at night. High is high and the low is low. Our weather is like that. It was perhaps high 40's walking Dash to the bus stop just 3-4 houses down to the corner.

My sweet daughter is not doing very well. We have temperatures at both ends of the gauge this morning. Goodness sake!

Dove is retching even though I gave her the anti nausea medication. Hoping it stops soon. she wanted cold water big mistake. Tried some warmed apple juice no go.

Doves fever finally broke around then. she has a low grade this morning.

being in a time of need

there is something sublime
—Synonyms
1.  exalted, noble. 2.  magnificent, superb, august, grand, gorgeous, resplendent, imposing, majestic.

in being a mother when beside my ill child. Though never a Mother who would ever wish thus upon my young.
Steve, upon Doves request assisted me in bring the air mattress into the living room. Tonight again I will sleep (term used loosely ) there with her only this time not sitting up on the recliner. She NEEDS me. How it is that a mother, this mother becomes irreplaceable. As if it is only in my presence peace security and the calm can come to her. It is a holy thing being here for my child.
It is sacred the charge to hold the hair, spoon the broth and wipe the brow.

So in that my pen runs low of ink (so to speak).

I am well with some head ache, tiny tad of nausea here and there. Rather tired and thankful she is calm at the moment. Thank you sweet Denise to ask of me. I wore a mask at the ER last night and on the sofa most of the night. Once the tell tell headache hit I knew flu was coming to hit me. However with the flu shot I received my defenses are higher. I could just kick myself for only getting it for Dash and I at the allergist. I should of made a pediatric appointment and gotten her one. It just slipped by me.
The antibiotics I started on Sunday will help too. My dentist appointment in the morning canceled (the reason of the prophylactic antibiotics). Yet I will stay on them. Still have the knee shots set on Thursday. Steve will leave work early to take me. It is in the late afternoon so I will be able to care for her until then. I trust Gods ways so high that it will all work out.
Well after 28 hour with only a few of sleep this is a little bit of a mental health break. I will be going in again now in the time of need.
Sleep should come in small slices of gratitude for it will mean that she has calmed the retching and rests. Sweet child.
Appriciate your prayers

Please remember Shorybear in hospital, a prayer would mean so much to her as well.

doves got the flu

we were in the ER last night
sweet kid
love your prayers for her please

Shorty Bear calls for prayer

Eddie asked me to post on her site but I can not get in. She is in hospital and has called me to ask all of you for prayer. This is unlike her to speak up folks so you know this is serious. she is in due to some type of colitis, kidney infection, urinary track infection.

Eddie sounds pretty wiped out tired having to work and help her to hospital. They have been trying to get her blood sugar levels in order. 

So folks Pray for this woman who takes so much of her heart and prays for us.

Thank you

You can go over to her place shorty bears place

She is in hopital
1-423-778-7072 this is bed side. If you call please she is in hospital make it real brief. Just reminder of how loved she is.
This is posted at Eddie and Denise request.
Thank you

Financial fraud, God is watching

Many years ago we were refereed to

this accountant to do our taxes. 

This a referral coming from my BIL he as well as his kids and my in laws all used this mans services for tax preparation. We were just laid off with a severance package and for the first time I needed help doing our taxes. Thank God I only used him one time. Thank God that we did not accept his advise or accept his suggestions. Given as if it were a honorable thing. He spoke of how many church going folks he has helped set up trust funds for their wills. We had had a trust set up when we went back to Russia to get our son. Leaving Dove here we had to protect her. He wanted his hands on our trust to 'help' us. We did not go there for we were just doing taxes and were far to busy to even think about his offer.

We just learned that the man is now serving 18 months in prison for fraud and tax evasion setting up off shore accounts for his wealthy clients. I remember him telling us something about how he was protecting those incomes of a woman who had a special needs adult. Wow to learn now that perhaps those poor folks were harmed...to think of the ploy against us being older with special needs kids that "would one day need someone to 'watch' over them if we were to die" Holy cow!

We never used his services again. Strange I remember being uncomfortable. Taxes ONLY was my use for his services but I remember him suggesting helping us with our severance package.

Now folks that is twice that we have been protected by my instincts.

We once had a financial adviser who worked for a prominent large company. I never felt right with him. He was even in a prayer group of our men's retreat. I was called by his wife as the police left his office him in handcuffs. She had found our paperwork in his brief case. We would of been his next victim. This fellow who was sitting beside me in prayer ? was in fact getting ready to steal us blind.
She protected us. He had also been charged with sexually stalking his wife's grown daughter. I was always uncomfortable with him for he had a strange tick and could not look me in the eye for long. I just thought I was making too much out of it. I even warned Steve several times that something was wrong. I had to call the company to report it and protect what ever he was doing from our harm.
 One only one time we allowed his offer for he and his wife to watch the kids so we could have a mental health break (date). She never left their side thank God I am so suspicious of folk. We do not let our kids out on a very long lead. We hold tight and let the length out a bit but never let go of it.

We have since had a wonderful woman who is tops in the company be our help. She normally only helps high profile clients who I assure you we are not. Again though God protected us.

Listen to your instincts ladies.

God is watching us.

swimming on the surface

goodness! This week has been one of getting my head above water. The last few weeks have just buried me in task and chores. Dove is in Choir and Dash has Chess club and Student council. The after school curriculum has me at the park while one or the other plays until the class for the other is over. This is the season of independence earned sets with strong boundaries. I will not just leave either of them to fend alone/friends unattended. Yet I try to be invisible as much as I can to guard the hearts against those who harass them. for the most part I find that although they would rarely admit it the peers like having me cover their backs.
Steve have been working long hours now that he is on exempt status. Two huge projects have successfully achieved the goals. We are very blessed to have employment. He also has been approached to do a job on the side. He will be doing measurements on it tonight. Doing this also helps out his brothers buddy.

got to make lunches and wake the household now. Enjoy your morning.

Habitat for Humanity

Hello folks
Yesterday while I was out I happened to stumble upon a thrift shop that sells for this group. The thrift shop uses the proceeds to build and or provide homes/shelter.
Location
Southern and Dobson roads in Mesa AZ
on the North/East corner.

Look up one in your community as well. These people really do a good thing.
Some nail patch and a cast iron grill pan were my finds. Funny that cast iron pan has been on my wish list. The cashier said it was a real strange item the first she had ever seen. Mostly they have building materials. Very little furniture. We are donating the TV to them. Next week they will be sending out a truck to pick it up.

Get ready for a belly laugh!

The language of Love

What did you receive for valentines day? What about your anniversary? Your birthday?
How do you know that you are loved? Is it in what you are given? Words that have been spoken?
Perhaps a helping hand when in need.

Each person is gifted with a personal language how love is expressed.

There was once a tower built to the sky.
I suppose we all would love to once again assume we understand each other. All but that is not the case. One woman gets flowers another chocolates. One a card another a few blocks moved. A cpap machine cleaned and filled with water every night.
A man is measured by the roses he gives how terrible a verdict for those who speak love in a different way. A woman may say he does not care for she received none as her friend spouts the pride of a dozen.
We are all messed up in this tower to the sky, now the fall out of love misunderstood rocks marriages all around the country. Roses from those who speak such things are divine. Roses when spoken though words or acted though deeds smell non the sweeter.

Listen to the hearts of lovers for each has a voice all their own.

Great neiphew

Please pray for little Boy Blue. He was in hospital with rsv all weekend. Very sick baby.
Please also pray for his gram ma, my sister she has knee replacement surgery in two weeks and has been exposed to it.

Thank you

May your heart beat faster!

What do you love?

What is it that just makes your heart beat faster?

Now , now girls I speak of the gifts and talents that you have developed.

When you think of an activity or project, what makes you thrive?

On this Valentines day

my wish for you is a time of thriving in something that enriches your day.

Friday I got a feather in my bonnet...no not from the chickens.

From my new bead catalog. This issue is perhaps the 4th year copy I have. so I cut up the old ones. Using a mat cutter and exacto knives.

Every time this thing comes I sit and turn pages and my heart races with the beauty and creativity of it all. The majesty of all the natural stones and elements created for our pleasure.

 click to enlarge images

Over the weekend the pleasure that has enveloped my heart was begun a listing of all of the gem stones. Then it also turned into a collage of ideas for necklaces (it is sideways). Another is in the works for earrings and bracelets.

Best get to bed, I have had so much fun time got away from me.

This will hang over the beading area. I made it 3D on purpose.

Love your day for it is a gift, that's why it is called the present.

Bet you can tell I'm feeling better :)

Mommy stock rises!

Several of the girls in Doves grade had decided to throw one of the girls little sister a surprise party at the park.
Now I had no knowledge of this until Dove asked if she could go to the park. I had saw myself taking her to the park in a dream last night so I immediately said yes..
In a few minutes she received a call from a child I did not recognize so I listened in. The conversation was over a cake that need to be baked because one was ruined. It was then that I recieved the full story that Dove had forgotten to tell me about dure to the busy weekend.
The girl had made a cake that her step father had cut into unknowingly.
I met the girls at the park curb, fixed the cake and took them to the park. Oh did I score!
I am SO COOL! they said so.

I made my daughter proud.