It's the middle of the night and I can't sleep.  This has been a hard, hard week.  It started out on Monday with a phone call from my Mom.  "Your Dad fell and he can't get up".  "Is he conscious?" I asked.  "He was talking a little bit ago." she replied.  This began our hard week.  

Kevin drove a very confused Dad to the hospital Emergency Department.  After a CT scan confirmed that he had not injured his head, he was admitted for Sepsis.  Dad had just begun treatment for another UTI but it had escalated quickly into Sepsis.  For the first time, my "sharp as a tack" Dad was confused and had developed Delirium.  Due to Covid protocols he could only have one visitor per day.  I sat with him on Tuesday.  He seemed to be lucid at times but, he couldn't remember simple things like the town he has lived in for 85 years.  I was informed that this was common with UTI's at his age and that he may not regain his memory.  I was devastated and due to Covid, alone.  More days of confusion followed.  

Thursday, I went to see a Retina Specialist.  Within a few moments I was diagnosed with a rare disease called Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy.  What the Ophthalmologist could not explain over 3 visits, a specialist diagnosed in minutes.  He told me that this was the best diagnosis of all of the possible diagnosis it could have been.  I had more tests, including a test to check the arteries in my eye and told that if I don't hear from them the results were good.  My next appointment is scheduled for 3 months.  I am to chart my vision loss every other day to make sure it doesn't get worse.  My vision (with glasses) is 20/20; however, there is a blind spot in my left eye.  Thankfully, the loss is not in my dominant eye and with both eyes open, the other eye is compensating for the loss.  

This is how I am supposed to chart my vision loss: 

The blue blob represents where I have lost vision in my left eye.  

Back to Dad.  He was taken to a rehab center to continue treatment for his infection and receive therapy for his cognitive loss.  According to the therapists on his first day (today), he is doing really well and his cognition has returned.  I have no idea if that is the correct way to say it but, Dad is back to being Dad.  They plan to keep him for a week until he finishes his UTI meds.  I spoke with him on the phone and finally was able to breathe a sigh of relief.  That was until an hour later.  As I was on the phone with my brother,  he got a call, my cell phone got a call and mom's phone got a call from the rehab center.  It was a robocall saying that a staff member had tested positive for Covid-19 for the first time since July.  My heart sank.  Dad had mentioned to me on the phone that the workers would just come right up to you coughing. I didn't think too much about it at the time.  Now, it terrifies me.  

I've been knocked off of my feet, again.  I was already drained physically and mentally.  Now, I'm a little bit devastated. I'm going to have to give this to God and trust Him.  He loves my Daddy even more than I do.  I didn't tell my Mom; she would never make it through this time if she found out.  

I don't know how this will play out but I do know that God is in control.  

I also received some hard news this week that my sweet friend and most loyal blog reader, Lorraine, had a stroke.  I am heartbroken but praying that she will have a full recovery and be better than ever in the near future. 

A few good things:  

Daniel went as a hamster for Halloween.   This is year 3 for the hamster costume I paid to have expedited from China.  Money well spent.  

Daniel made Student of the Week.

He also made Papaw a card.  

2020 at my house:

Scooter

 Blossom got some wheels! 

Scott sure loves his girl.  

Here she is just before she ran over Balto with her tire.  Please note that she is standing on his tail.  

She doesn't love her wheelchair as much as we had hoped.  She tolerates it.  We are hoping that she will get more used to it as time goes on and we will be able to take her on a walk.  For now, she uses it to wander all over the yard. 

Beware this week:  Halloween 2020!

Just Breathe

Last week was so busy!  There were doctor appointments every day of the week.  One for Dad, one for Mom and three for me!  The ophthalmologist that I have seen 3 times in the last 7 weeks has now referred me to a retina specialist.  The scheduler warned me that it will be a THREE hour appointment and to bring a book or a movie!  Ugh. 

Saturday, I was blessed to get to visit with my Uncle Coy, Aunt Bobbie, Aunt Zell and cousins Annette and Teri.  Uncle Coy and Aunt Bobbie came all the way from Greenville, SC to visit with us.  Annette came all the way from the UK!  Aunt Zell shared these pictures with us.  We would have loved for their brother, Skee, to come; however, he is quarantined.  Stupid Covid.  

Siblings: 

Brothers:

I love my Dad's family so much.  

In other news, Blossom got a wheelchair on Sunday!  Scott finished putting it together, but it was too dark outside to try out.

Meanwhile, I'm still studying the book of Habukkuk.  I finished the study once and immediately started it again.  I feel like I could study it for another year and still keep learning.  I think I better just move on to something new when I finish it again this week.  

 5 things for this week: 

1.  I can't wait for the election to be over!   I decided to deactivate my Facebook account again because I just can't take any more political posts OR posts shaming people because they choose to make safer decisions in a Pandemic.  Why on earth do people think we should all think alike?  

2.  There are only 5 more weeks until Thanksgiving!  There is always so much to be thankful for.  

3.  A snail can sleep for 3 years.  

4.  I miss living with a cat. 

5.  Nurse Wendy, who works next door, is going to re-pierce my right ear tomorrow.  I found out on Saturday that it had closed up.  Oops.    

What is going on in your world this week?  

Halftober

We are almost half way through October already!  Does it seem like the second half of the year is going much faster than the first?  

Several weeks ago, my hair colorist put a toner "glaze" on my hair and chopped off more of the fried ends.  This wasn't to change the color of my sliver hair but to tone down the brassy "blorange" ugliness.   

This week, I will mark "Month 8" of my grow out.  

Check out smiley!  

We call Blossom "Scooter" these days as she has become a "pro" at scooting around on her backside.  Nothing can stop Blossom!  

She can still walk a little bit and at times, she stands like a normal dog.  One thing is certain, she's still feisty!  

Today, Daniel spent about 30 minutes showing cat videos to the cat. 

I'm just as shocked as you are that the cat actually watched them! 

So,....life has been super wonky for me lately.  I have recently received unexpected (not so great) news from my doctor and my ophthalmologist.  I'm doing my best to eat healthy, exercise daily, lower my stress/anxiety and take care of myself.  Mom and Dad are still keeping me very busy but life is good.  

My boy:

It's not cold in North Carolina just yet but....

Friday, my oldest friend (not by age!) received the news that we were hoping not to hear.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Thankfully, her prognosis is excellent and it is likely she will only need a lumpectomy.  We are praying for no chemo and no radiation.  She's got this and we've got her! 

So what is going on with you?  

  

Checking In

Good Monday morning.  So much has happened since my last post so I wanted to stop by and say hello.  

Maybe I'll just tell you this story from two weeks ago.  First, let me start out by saying that I had just gotten a surprising report from the doctor about my heart.  Keep in mind that I am supposed to be lowering my blood pressure.  

It was a Friday night and I had just pulled in the driveway after dropping off Chick-Fil-A at Mom and Dad's house.  I tapped the garage door opener and noticed there was something in my parking spot.  For a moment, I was confused, trying to figure out what the big pile of black was.  I wondered if Scott had left one of our watering cans in my spot.  All of a sudden, my brain starts to realize, "It's a snake!"  Not only was it a snake but it was 2 snakes and they were fighting.  I was soon able to see that there was a King Snake wrapped around a Garter Snake and the Garter Snake looked dead.  It was lying motionless with his mouth wide open.  I felt a little sad as I realized it was most likely my friend, Gartie.  

Scott was inside the house so I called the landline from my car.  "Get outside, there's a King Snake killing a Garter Snake in the garage!!!"  All of a sudden, the Garter Snake starting whipping itself against the King Snake who was wrapped around it.  I let out a Hollywood worthy scream over the phone.  Scott came out and started throwing anything he could pick up at the snakes.  Then he started sweeping them with a broom.  Finally, the King Snake unwrapped itself and the Garter Snake was able to slither to safety.  Here's a picture of the King Snake.  I'm sure it wasn't very happy we had ruined its supper.   I'm also sure my blood pressure was not very good at this point. 

Just reliving this story is stressful enough!  

September Blossom

Have you heard that the CW is coming out with a live action version of the Powerpuff Girls? Why does Hollywood have to ruin everything?  

Fighting crime before bedtime.  LtoR:  Bubbles, Blossom & Buttercup

I once wanted to adopt 2 kittens so that I could name them Bubbles and Buttercup and have my own set of Powerpuff Girls.  Scott said no.  

How is everything in your world?  We just had a Covid19 scare in my office. My boss' son came home from college and tested positive.  As of last week, my boss and his wife tested negative but, they are still living in the same house as their son.  I was briefly around my boss 6 days ago so I'm being extra cautious around my parents.  I stay more than 6 feet away and wear a N95 mask when I am with them.  It is making caregiving rather difficult this week.  

Last Friday, I had my first session with a new Psychologist (via teleconference).  I can tell I am really going to learn a lot from this Dr.  It was time; I realized I needed help learning how to manage caregiving both parents and anxiety all while living in a Pandemic.  I'm overwhelmed and not sure how to juggle everything.  She has given me such hope and great advice already.  We meet again on Friday.  

Daniel loves wearing his wolf ears from Great Wolf Lodge.  He loves wearing them so much that his dad had to threaten him to keep him from wearing them into Wal-Mart.  I think he would have been the most normal looking person there.  If you are wondering what is in his hand, it is a dog grooming razor that he had just found in my parents' basement.  He asked me if it worked.  I told him to wait until Pawpaw went to sleep and try it out on his hair.  

I've never known anyone who loves water as much as Daniel.  He has always been obsessed with hoses and nozzles.  I think he'll end up designing water whirligigs some day.  

(Not) Mom's cat says hello...

She loves this cat so much.  

When I finished petting Blossom I turned my head and saw this in my face...

Blossom is practicing yoga now.  I really centers her as she deals with her neurological disease.  She's a natural at Down Dog.  Up Dog is pretty easy for her as well.  Cat Pose, not so much.