RuthB

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Wednesday ramblings

Here's a picture of my three grandsons. Aren't they handsome? <G> They are Andruw, left age 7 years, Alex right, age 9 in March, and Anthony, lower center age 12 next month. They are sure growing up. My daughter bought them these elf hats that they dearly hate. I'm sure they took t hem off as soon as possible.

I hope everyone has a very MERRY Christmas.

It is snowing to beat the band here right now. In fact, I should be at work. I got up and got dressed and we headed for Pueblo. We went a few miles and decided to turn around and come back home. There was almost no traffic on the roads and what we did see was all 4 wheel drive vehicles. We don't have 4 wheel drive. We made it back home safely thank the Lord. We got about 3 inches of snow overnight. It was mostly small, very fine snowflakes. They have since turned to huge, fluffy flakes that accumulate quickly. We have about 8 or 9 inches now and it's still falling. Looks like I just might get a couple extra days off for Christmas. That sure won't hurt my feelings. I see no point in traipsing out in this stuff and endangering myself when I can stay home in a nice warm, snug house with a nice warm fire in the stove.

Posted at 01:31 pm by RuthB
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Monday, December 13, 2004

Monday Musings

Boy have I been remiss on entering anything on my blog. It's not because nothing has been going on. Just the opposte, in fact, TOO Much going on.

I don't go back to the eye doctor until Jan. 12. I'm still not sure if I will be working past the middle of Jan. or not. I have an appointment with a lady at the Center for Disabilities on Wednesday and an appointment with Voc. Rehab on Friday afternoon. I've never been the client before so this is all new to me. So far I'm handling things pretty good. I'm kind of anxious to see what Voc. Rehab has to say. It kind of sounded like they would pay Art to take me to work and also buy the visual aide equipment I need to continue my job. That would certainly be a big help. I must admit one part of me was looking forward to not having to crawl out of bed and get out in the cold. However, financially we can't really afford for me to quit this job. I work at a very small non-profit agency. Our funding is thru Dec. 2005 and I would really like to work at least that long. It would give Art and I a chance to save a little and my eyes to stablilize. So far every time I've gone to the eye doctor, my eyes have had more damage. I haven't been driving since before Thanksgiving. There are some mornings when I think I could do ok driving and then we hit the bright sunlight and I can't see a thing. I sure don't want it to stay cloudy all the time so I'll take the bright sunshine and put on my dark, disposable shades that I get from the eye doctor when he dilates my eyes. They sure do make a lot of difference.

I've been trying to get ready for Christmas. I sure do need to get the grandkids' presents in the mail so they will get them before Christmas. Time has a way of flying way to fast. Maybe tonight when I get home from work I can get everything boxed up and ready for Art to take to the post office. We'll see.

Right now I'm at work so I'd better get busy.

Posted at 02:41 pm by RuthB
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Monday, November 29, 2004

Snowy Monday Morning

It's snowy Monday morning and I'm spending another day at home. The roads are slick and I'm a coward. <G> Anyway, we haev about a foot of snow and it's still snowing. It's snowed all night, but the flakes have been small so it's not accumulating that fast. It's beautiful and looks like Christmas. Besides the snow it's COLD!! With the wind chill I think it's about -10 degrees. Not the kind of weather I want to be out traipsing about in.

Wouldn't you know that when the weather is bad, we have septic tank problems. The Roter Rooter guy is supposed to be here about noon. When I called, the first thing he wanted to know was how much snow we have. I told him about a foot. He ddin't seem to balk at it. I think our line has roots grown in it and just clogged up. Seems like its always something, doesn't it?

Don't you just love being snowed in with a nice warm, toasty fire in the wood stove? <G>

Better get off here and get busy. I want to make a batch of soap and a batch of lotion bars. I have two craft shows coming up this weekend. I sure do hope the weather cooperates.

Later.

Posted at 09:32 am by RuthB
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Thursday, November 25, 2004

I'm Thankful

I AM THANKFUL...

FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO, BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE THAT MEANS SHE/HE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES THAT I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I AM EMPLOYED.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE..

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND THAT I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH THAT SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS

I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I AM ALIVE.

AND FINALLY... FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.

Posted at 07:19 am by RuthB
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Wednesday, November 24, 2004

eye update

Well,, I'm back home from the doc visit. He really didn't say to much more. Just that he wants to do a couple more tests on me. One is with a new machine they are going to get within the next couple of weeks It's called and OCT machine and I think it measures the depth of swelling of the retina and measure the retina itself. I don't really understand it. He is also going to do anohter dye test. This will be the third one. I don't like them, but if they help, then that's ok with me. He still hasn't ruled out the steroid shot in the eye, but is cautious due to the risk and the fact that I only have the one eye that I see out of. He advised me to go ahead and apply for SSI and to get some low visual aides and start using them. He indicated it is only a matter of time before I go completely blind. I have place all of this in God's hands and really am not stressing out over this. I'm not saying I want to be blind, and will do all I can to keep what sight I have. I trust the Lord for direction. I've found when the going gets rough, if I give it to God, I can have a peace about it all. I really do have a peace about this and am looking for ways to do as the doc suggested today - find ways to adjust my world to doing things without being able to see. Like he said, it's much easier to learn to do them while I have sight than to wait until the sight is totally gone to learn how do things.

I don't go back until after the holidays, Jan 24. When I go back I will have the OCT and the dye test.

Posted at 01:44 pm by RuthB
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Thanksgiving Traditon

I was just sitting here thinking about our plans for this weekend and wondering what you all are planning. How about sharing some of your Thanksgiving traditions?

Since before I can remember we have always gone to my Grnadma's house for Thanksgiving. When she left the farm and moved into town, we still went to her house until she wasn't able to cook the dinner. Then it was back to the same farm where she used to live as my aunt and uncle had bought the farm from her. That was when I was still in school so you can see we've been going back to the farm for many years. I won't get to go this year, but other family members will be gathering there. There's a new crop of babies now. All us 'little' kids have grown up and are now grandparents. It would be quite a clan if we all descended on Aunt Bonnie at one time. It is rather neat listening to my kids and now my grandkids talk about the farm and all the fun stuff they do there. Like climbing up in the hay loft just like I used to do when I was a kid. When my Uncle Roger was alive, he always had a team of work horses and would hook up his wagon. We'd all bundle up against the cold and he'd take us for a wagon ride. It was so much fun. Aunt Bonnie carried on the tradition Grandma started with making what we call Tradition to eat. Tradition is very simple, but doesn't taste the same any other time of the year. It is simply a yellow cake, no icing, but topped with whipped cream and sliced bananas. You might ask what's so special about that?, but believe me it is. We always look forward to it every year. I fix it here when I can't go there, but it's just not quite the same. I'll be fixing it again this year also and even this diabetic will eat a taste of it. After all it's tradition.

We think it started one year when Grandma lived on her first Missouri farm. Times were hard and they just had what they could produce on the farm. There wasn't much money for extras. Grandma had plenty of eggs from her chickens, cream and milk from her cows, and just enough to buy a couple of bananas. The bananas weren't enough to go around for everyone to have one so being the expert engineer that she was, she improvished. She used her eggs, milk, and flour to bake a simple cake. She used her cream to whip for a topping. She sliced the few bananas she had managed to acquire and added them to the whipped cream. And there you have Tradition. No other dessert is needed at our Thanksgiving Dinner. Everyone looks forward to Tradition.

Posted at 06:59 am by RuthB
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Sunday, November 21, 2004

Life Happens

I hope everyone is having great Saturday. Mine is going to be busy. Snow is falling and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. We have our Thanksgiving Dinner at church this afternoon so I am cooking pumpking pie, ham, ham and egg noodles, and already have a huge banana pudding (sugar free of course) in the fridge waiting. I sure hope we don't get snowed out because I don't know what I'll do with all this food. Art can't eat all of this and I sure don't need to eat it. <G> Don't plan to either.

I am hoping and praying next week goes smoother than this past week. Last Saturday our St. Bernard broke her chain and got loose. Evidently she was across the road. She always comes when I call her and she did this time. Unfortunately, the roads were slick and a car was coming. We don't think the car hit her, but rather she hit the car. She spun around when her head hit the front right headlight, and broadsided the car with her body. She then spun away from the car and went tumbling along the road/ground. By the time the driver of the car got stopped and pulled off the road, Sheba was just lying there on the ground not moving. Before he could get to her, she got up and limped back to our house. She was down the road just a little ways, not far. She stopped in our 2nd drive and just lay down. The poor driver was an air force guy on his way back to meet his plane and go back to duty in Florida. We rushed Sheba to the vet and the soldier went on to catch his flight. Sheba just sprained her right elbow. The vet gave her a shot and gave us some pain pills to give her for five days. She is limping a bit still, but other than that doing fine. We were so thankful she wasn't hurt badly. I prayed for her right out there in the driveway. She calmed down as soon as I started praying for her. She never made a sound as the vet pried open her mouth and prodded and poked the rest of her body and pulled on her legs. Not even when he pulled on her sore leg did she whimper or make a move to stop him.

Sunday morning while we were at church the soldier called to check on her. He said there was some major body damage to his mom's car, but not to worry about it. He is taking care of that. He said he is just glad Sheba wasn't hurt badly.

The next thing that happened is that some time during the first part of the week I got the call regarding my mom. She isn't expected to live. I debated on flying down to Phoenix, but just do not have the money to do so. After talking to my sister, I decided not to go. I called and was able to talk to Mom for a few minutess. She really didn't know if I was there or on the phone. She responded a little, but was unable to talk.

Next my computer at work crashed and I had to reset everything back to factory settings and reinstall EVERYTHING. I had backed up everything so it's more time consuming than anything.

Another thing that happened is that I fell Wednesday afternoon and evidently bruised something high up inside on my left side. I kept saying I hurt my boob, but it's actually deeper than that. I am still very sore and it is difficult to breathe. I thank the Lord that I didn't have a free arm to try to brace myself because I probably would have broken my arm if I had. I did a stop, drop, and roll routine. I rolled far enough past the edge of a building that the construction workers could see me. They came running and one gentleman helped me get up. I had to lay there for just a minute because the air was knocked out of me. I thank the Lord for keeping His hand over me.

Another thing that happened this week is problems with the steering on my van. I was afraid to chance driving home alone so I called Art and he came in and got me. The next day he contacted a garage and they towed the van to their shop. They called us about 4:15 that afternoon and said it is fixed. We were expecting major repair costs. The whole thing cost us about $70 plus the towing charge which our insurance iwll reimburse.

Friday night Art went to check the balance in our account and found the Federal Government had deposited $1875 dollars. We have no idea how come as we haven't gotten a letter explaining it. He put it in our savings account and we are waiting to see if we get any kind of explanation. I told him God surely is blessing us. For every upset we've had this week, there has been a blessing. It's kind of like the devil is trying to discourage us, but the Lord is saying no way, these are MY kids. I know for sure that I am NOT discouraged. These things are what I call Life happening. It seems there is something going on everyday. I do not have a polyanna type attitude. I just know without a doubt who is in charge of my life. Whatever He brings me to, He brings me through. He's never failed me yet and he won't leave me now.

Praise the Lord!!!!

Posted at 02:49 pm by RuthB
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Saturday, November 13, 2004

Early Saturday Morning Musings

It's early Saturday Morning here in the Colorado Rockies. What a week this has been. Monday started off with my second laser surgery. That went fine. I felt this one more than I did the last one. Later the tech said it was because the doc did more work this time. I never thought I'd ever be able to endure someone messing with my eyeball, but I have. I go back to see the doc the Wed. before Thanksgiving. He wants to check and see what is going on in my eye. So far everytime I've gone back, there has been more damage. Needless to say, my eye is not stable right now. I think the next thing he will want to do is a steroid shot in the eye. He wants to do it when he is available for immediate follow-up treatment if needed. He said there are risks and he wants to be available to take care of them if they occur. I'm trusting the Lord to take care of them. He won't do the shot before Thanksgiving because he is planning on being gone for several days.

Tuesday and Wednesday were busy with work and church. I sure can tell I'm not as young as I used to be. I am ready for bed a LOT earlier than I was a few years ago. Especially when I've worked all day. Working all day and then going to church in the evening wears me out. Is that a sign of old age? <G> I think some of the tiredness comes from the stress over my eye situation and this waiting business. Art and I are facing some major decisions and possible life changing situations. I am trying to decide if I should stop work and apply for SSI. We both want the Lord's will in our lives. Guess I'm still in need of learning patience. Waiting is not my game for sure.

Thursday was a holiday for me and I spent it at home alone. Art subbed at school that day. I was able to get my soaps sorted and out of the middle of th efloor. I also worked on my sewing room and went thru some of my clothes. I wonder why in the world I collect so much stuff. When I go to get rid of it, I can't do it. What if I need that later on? <G> Yep I'm a packrat. Not as bad as I used to be, but still a packrat. I really am working on getting rid of stuff and have actually done much better this year. Still room for improvement, but it's progress. <G>

Enough rambling for the time being. More to follow later.

Posted at 06:46 am by RuthB
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Thursday, November 04, 2004

Update on eye appointment

Just wanted to update y'all on my eye appointment today. It wasn't the best news I could have had by any means. Unless the Lord heals me, I am going blind. Now don't think that I'm claiming this. I am just relating what the doctor said today. I am scheduled to have another laser surgery Monday afternoon. He wanted to do it ASAP. Evidently there is more damage from the last one to this one plus whatever damage there was already there before the first surgery. Does that make sense?

Anyway, Monday I have to make a decision whether or not to have a steroid shot right into my eye. There is a risk of about 1 out of 200 of getting an infection in that eye if I have the shot. The doctor said there is a lot of swelling in my eye that needs to be taken care of. Having the shot will slow down the process of going blind. He didn't give me any time frames about how long it would be if I don't have the shot. If I have the shot and if an infection develops, it means a very aggressive surgery. The doc will go in, remove the fluid in the eyeball, sterilize it and put it back. That is a very simplified, layman's interpretation of what he actually said.

As big a coward as I am and in spite of the risks, I am leaning toward having the steroid shot. I don't want to go blind. I am way to independent to be letting someone else do for me. I realize that even if I do go blind, I will still be able to do a lot for myself, but I would have to quit work. That would seriously limit our income. We are adding up our work related expenses and medical expenses and trying to make a prayerful decision.

Please pray for Art and I as we make these decisions reagarding my eyes. Also please pray for the doctor as he does surgery and treats my eye. We are seeking God's will in our lives. That is the most important thing. God has NEVER failed us yet and he wont' now either. I give Him thanks for the technology available to treat my eyes and for providing it for me.

Posted at 02:41 pm by RuthB
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Thursday

It's Thursday morning and I am leaving in a few minutes for another eye doctor appointment. I will have a dye test this morning and they will probably tell me when the next laser surgery will be. The dye test is worse than the actual surgery. At least that's the way it was the last time. This one is a short message, but I promise I will be back later to write more.

This will be a busy weekend for me. I have a craft show and will be selling lots and lots of the soap and lotion that I make. I'm hoping to sell enough to use for Chrsitmas presents. I have been looking around and thinking about what I want to get for different ones. Now I just need to get the money to buy what I want to get. <G>

This past year has sure flown. I'm asking myself what have I accomplished this year? Who have I accomplished it for, myself, others, or God?

Be back later. Time to get ready for my appointment.

God Bless us all.

Posted at 07:16 am by RuthB
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