Saturday

Continuing:

The dangerous overhanging limbs. J had originally gotten an estimate of over $400 from the company that removed the maple a few years ago. We planned on doing that, but had to work on saving that much money first. Then some other tree people were working across the road, and J walked over, schmoozed a bit, and came home with an estimate of $50, making a plan that the guys would come over 4 days later to do this. We were cheering!
Then they didn't show up...so J started getting another estimate with yet another company and got an estimate of  just over $200. Again, good enough, but we had to save up.
 While I was gone, the guy who didn't show up before, did, just dropping by one afternoon; he had had some unexpected minor surgery, and was very apologetic that he hadn't gotten our number to let us know why he hadn't shown up. Anyway, he cut those limbs off, and charged $50. And now we have some nice firewood too. End of story.

Vermont was so pretty. It was a bad beginning; my arriving flight to Burlington on Tuesday night was delayed and instead of getting in at 630 as planned, we didn't leave DC until much later, arriving at 845 instead. I had called them to let them know, but my stepmom  said my dad had just left... Fortunately Dad had brought a book with him, and by the time I did land, he was tired but did the driving back to his home.  The original plan was for me to drive, because of his severe foot pain, and because night driving is rather challenging for someone with cataracts.

We talked all the way, and then instead of going straight to bed when we got there, my stepmom had a light dinner of soup and salad all ready!  We stayed up even later talking and catching up, with wine of course.

The next day Dad and I walked around the property, and spent more time just relaxing and talking, napping, and then  had a nice dinner after watching the news on PBS, and watched a movie they had rented.

The next day was Dad's 81st birthday. My stepmom and I drove to Middlebury and did some grocery shopping, and dropped off a rug to be cleaned, and stopped at the pharmacy for a prescription...it was gorgeous weather, and so picturesque. I miss the NE area so much! We came home and made sandwiches for lunch, and then she and I headed out again just so I could get some maple sugar, and then go to the Ferry for a quick trip across the Lake and back. I had bought two tshirts the last time I was there, but J has "borrowed" one, and the other has mysteriously disappeared. I got the last blue one, and am very happy.  It was so thoughtful of her to do this for me. I was so appreciative.

 When we got back from that excursion, Dad was intent on doing some log splitting. They have their very own splitter and Dad has it set up very efficiently. The three of us did that for less than an hour, but it made me feel better to be "earning my keep". J and I borrow from a friend when we need to process some wood, so it felt quite handy to have one's very own.

Back inside we napped again, and later changed to some dressier (and cleaner!) clothes. Then we headed out to the Inn for dinner.  The Inn is run by some friends of theirs, and is a wonderful old building...just the kind of place you feel comfortable in for a nice meal and friends.  Dad and I had the curried lamb on skewers with an herbed yogurt dip. OMG it was spicy, so peppery it was almost inedible. With it I had a Caesar salad, and Dad had the pork, and my stepmom had the stuffed Acorn squash. All yummy...(and we had enough leftovers for lunch the next day).

Back home we just did more relaxing, and went to bed by 9 or so I think. The next morning, Friday, L and I walked the dog to a small cemetery by their house, again so picturesque, so old. I love old graveyards. Later I walked alone around the property, and just enjoyed the colors, and tramping through the trees and fields. The dog was not interested in going with me; I'd forgotten that 10 years is getting up there for a big dog. She was comfortable with a lot of sleeping, or playing with her stuffed toys.

I think that was the day Dad drove the tractor and trailer into the woods. He then used the chainsaw to chop up some fallen trees, while L and I loaded the trailer.   The days were also broken up by Dad's new foot treatment: icing them, then soaking them in hot water, then icing them again. He is supposed to do this 2-3 times daily...I don't think it was happening that often...but he is dealing with a lot of pain. So is L, with her knee.

L and I had chosen swordfish and fresh brussel sprouts to make for that last dinner, so we both worked on that and watched the news again. Dinner was yummy-- I haven't been able to eat swordfish in years due to its cost out here, but it was surprisingly affordable in VT. So. Good.

Another movie; this one I remember because Dad said twice that it made him cry. That is something I have rarely seen him do, and it was very touching. It had David Niven in a role I'd never seen before, set during WW2, but not a war movie per se. A love story, otherworldly. I'll have to find this one on DVD.

The next morning was Saturday, again very low key and relaxing.  Eventually I packed up, and we all got in the car with the dog, and drove up to Burlington for my flight home. After I'd hugged them, and thanked them, and hugged them again, and gone inside the terminal , I realized we hadn't gotten any photos of us all together. Sigh.

The rest of the day was spent on the planes or waiting at the gate to board the plane. On the second leg, from Chicago to SF, we left quite late with no explanations. As we were landing in SF the pilot asked the passengers who didn't have tight connections to make if they would please allow those who did to deplane first--and then he said,"Good luck to those  passengers!"  I was one of them, seated way back in the plane (which was huge). I did get off sometime after 10pm; when I checked the flight schedule, I realized I wasn't going to make my connecting flight up to Eugene--the gate I needed was in  a completely different terminal  nowhere near me, and was in fact leaving the airport at that moment. Sigh.

So, back I went to the  customer service desk, where many others were in the same boat--er, plane.  I felt pretty close to tears; I had so wanted to be home!  However, they booked us on the next available flights (the next day), gave us vouchers to hotels nearby, and directed us to the shuttles, and gave us food vouchers.  I stayed in a comfy room in a very nice hotel on the Bay, but it was too late to order food or wine, so I just took a couple of benadryl, and set my alarm, and slept like the dead.

Next morning, I was ready for the shuttle back to the airport by 8am, and going through security this time was quite lengthy. Sunday mornings are very busy: It took over an hour to get through security, and then take an airport shuttle to the correct terminal. Where I sat and waited til just after 10.  I used the $14 food voucher to buy some yogurt, a banana, and two giant cookies which I brought home for J.

My seat on this flight was a window seat. Loved it. At the last moments before arriving in Eugene, suddenly the fog set in, and we landed in thick cold fog. J was waiting for me with a Subway sandwich, and Murphy was there too. Felt wonderful... we rode home while I filled him in on details, and he tried to explain what he'd done while I was gone.

At home I noticed the lawn was covered with leaves, the overhanging tree branches gone, the property across the street was completely mowed free of its long field grasses and shrubs. The baby chicks were wandering around inside their pen--so much bigger! 

Inside, J had re-done the bedroom. He had torn down the drywall on one wall and removed the closet, refinished the resulting log wall, moved the bed, and built a new open closet all along the interior wall. There are long low shelves, and outward-facing hangers, and it's all freshly painted. Amazing what a difference it makes.

Now I sleep on the right side of the bed, nearest the wall. I haven't slept on the right hand side of a bed ever, I think. A week later I am still adjusting.

Back at work the next day bright and early. My lead MA had texted me Friday night, reminding me I was working for one of the other docs, who started at 8am. So I was there by 730, and every single day since has been nonstop.  Utterly exhausted by the time I get home, and because we are short staffed, there's no fussing about overtime.  I have done at least 10 hours days every day.

Unfortunately I started coming down with a cold on Wednesday. That frustrated me--I'd forgotten that you are exposed on airplane flights,  and there's nothing you can do about it.  So after all patients were done yesterday at around 1230, I clocked out for lunch as usual. But I was feeling so bad that co-workers were urging me to leave, and I did; I just cleared it with my lead, and then didn't clock back in.  I had to cancel my physical therapy appointment, too.

I arrived back home to find J's s son Z, and our friend  Mal having a late lunch with J. J wasn't surprised to see me; he'd been asking me to stay home.  He shooed the guys away, and I got into my comfy pj's and fell asleep on the sofa. 

Since then I've been catching up on email, and my mail, and reading, and taking my cold meds. Echinacea, Vit C, tea, decongestants, tissues, soup: I'm set.

Today I'm terribly grateful it's a Saturday. It's another cold and foggy day, after having been sunny and cool all week til yesterday.

I hadn't heard from my daughter in a while, but then we did some texting this morning. She thinks she is coming home Dec 14th. She is taking her stomach meds, and feeling better.  She is missing her fleece jacket and a particular favorite pair of shoes, and if it wouldn't take such a long time to have them arrive (and if I knew where they were in her storage unit) I'd find a way to send them.

Looking outside I see so many leaves falling, it looks like snow. It's not really windy, it's just Fall. The baby chicks are now wandering in the yard. They fly up to the top of their little coop and gather together.  J decided to just open their little enclosure despite it only being a week since they've been outside. They are so sweet to watch!  They stay together usually, and are ignored by the other hens. Two of the big hens are moulting, and look pathetic, but they have shown no aggression at all toward the chicks.

I have spent a long time updating this. It's wonderful to be home, on a weekend, and not do a damn thing. TYG.

Monday

I have so much to catch up on...but I am so dang tired. I had one hell of  a great week back in VT with my dad.

And I was back to work today. So much has happened there that I am utterly, utterly exhausted--and it's only Monday. I can't possibly write about any of it yet. I am still adjusting back to PST, and don't know how I am going to get through the week.

I was so busy I couldn't even listen to my voice message received this morning, until just now, at 8:50pm: a reminder call for my own doctor appt tomorrow. Umm, no; it's now on my to-do list tomorrow to cancel (as soon as I get to work tomorrow).

The pregnant MA had her baby, and is gone for 3 months.
The new Float MA was hired and started today. So I was given my new and temporary schedule, and am covering the pregnant MA's job two days a week, and doing *my* job the other 3 days. Today was literally non-stop from 730 when I arrived until 545 when I left, with only a 20minute lunch break.

I am still adjusting to PST. I had finally adjusted to EST, and now have to re-adjust.

I missed my flight home from SF on Saturday night, because the airline had some kind of mechanical issue in Chicago, causing us to arrive in SF just as the SF-to-Eugene flight was taking off. That was the last flight out. So I was put up in a hotel, and given food vouchers. First flight I could get on Sunday wasn't til 1045, arriving in Eugene at 1220. I was fighting tears because I was so tired and stressed at that point, but there was nothing to do--had to accept it. I finally found the grace to be grateful for a hotel bed and some food, instead of sleeping in the  airport.

J met me at Eugene, in the deep thick fog, with Murphy delirious with joy. So happy to be home!

J had busted his butt and re-done the bedroom. Two walls with drywall torn off and refinished; bed facing the window, a new closet along the west wall. Impossible to describe the feeling of being in a new room.

I  ended up doing 4 loads of laundry Sunday, and puttering while unpacking and exchanging news and stories. The weather was glorious, the baby chicks have grown, the dangerous oak limbs overhanging the driveway and carport were chopped off.

To be continued...

Monday

I'm so happy to be at home this morning. It's 9:30, and I Am. On. Vacation. Not really concerned about work; I'll be dealing with it soon enough, next week.

I had a meltdown last night. Didn't even realize how much stress I was under until I was explaining my frustrations which are mounting, especially with this headache which has been present in some form for about 3 weeks now. As I was telling J of this, I found myself just in tears over my inability to get rid of the pain, the pressure.  I ended up trying my new migraine medication after discussing the options with J, so that if I ended up crashed out, he would know why.  I don't think it's a migraine, but my diagnosis is "chronic mixed migraine", so it was worth a try.  However I was still awake at midnight, and the headache had backed off by then, but not disappeared. Sigh.

We'd been busy all day, prepping for winter outside, prepping for my trip, major housecleaning, all the myriad things one does on weekends. This time though I have a long weekend, and was happily getting ready. Errands, walking, dog-bathing and grooming, doing the bills (and discovering unexpected bills in the process; turns out just because one has the "approval" from one's insurance for a procedure doesn't mean they pay for it. J's series of injections is costing us over $500, which we were not advised of prior to receiving the series. That's a nasty shock.)

J is adjusting to his new phone, and loves the sound quality. We decreased the number of minutes we need monthly to help offset the cost of replacing the phone. We will be texting, mainly. I'm not a phone person anyway.

The other thing we did yesterday was prep the baby chicks' nest box/coop. It's a big long  rectangular box with a hinged lid that J picked up at Habitat for $5. He painted it, and strengthened it with more hinges and braces he already had, and then lined it with insulation and put an electric heating mat under the final layer of straw. He also cut out one of the ends to build a door we can raise and prop open for the chicks to enter, and arranged tip-proof water and feed both inside the box and outside in the big pen, where the box is settled.  He added some roosts, and that was it.

Then we carried the babies out and placed them in the box. Much chirping and chattering and excitement, chicks running around exploring and peeping. We decided it was too late in the day to have them exploring the actual pen, and just kept them in the box over night.  I was pretty anxious about this, their first night not only outside but the fact that it was going to be very cold, 37 degrees.  But they are fully feathered, and rapidly getting too big for the inside area we had them in.

After we saw them set up outside, we cleaned up the office where the chicks had been housed. I had no idea how much dust all the chick feed and shavings had created. Yikes.

Today it's sunny, and cold, but a gorgeous fall day. When J opened the chicks' door, they popped right out and began exploring their new territory. They love it! I'm so relieved.

Today I will finish packing,  because we have to be up at an ungodly hour, to get down to Eugene for my flight at 5:30am. Going to be a looong day! So excited to be seeing my dad...

Thursday

Jeez, it's been a week since I wrote and time is flying by!

I had my first physical therapy appointment last Friday afternoon and it went better than expected;  I now have certain exercises I get to do nightly. Friday after that appointment  I walked with the dog, and he was so happy to be back to our usual routine.

Over the weekend I went to my meeting, once again missing a particular person. I haven't seen her for quite a few weeks, and was becoming concerned. I'd texted and emailed her, and hadn't heard anything back until yesterday. She and I will have coffee Saturday before the meeting; she's going through some tough stuff.

We rented a movie Saturday night. No problems with the DVD player this time.

Sunday we worked on building the new chickens' coop.  And we walked, with Mr Murphy. We worked outside, enjoying the sunshine and cooler weather. We are getting ready for Winter.

 J's daughter came for the afternoon, after having just spent the last two months in training (in WA and in FL) for her new job as manager for the Weisfield's Jewelers store down in Eugene; out here they are part of the big chain called Kay.

Anyway J hadn't seen her since she started this job, and is of course beyond delighted that she is taking after him in the sales field. She is extremely competitive, and determined to be a big financial success. He is thrilled that she wants his advice, and that she listens eagerly to her dad, taking notes, even.

A coworker's car died suddenly last Thursday,  and as a single mom she is despairing. I had casually suggested if she needed help to let me know, feeling pretty safe in doing so as she lives in the next town over. Saturday she texted me, asking if I were serious, and long story short, we agreed to loan her some money if she can find a good second/third hand car. She is humbled by this, and I feel good at being able to pass on the help I've received over the years from so many supportive family members and friends.

Then Monday, more things started happening. J had taken his truck to do some errands last Friday, and it broke down, forcing him to walk home three miles, so it's been sitting at the mechanic's. Something to do with the carburetor. We took money out of savings to pay for that. Just under $200.

My laptop's charger cord stopped working suddenly after 4 years, so  I ordered a new one, which arrived tonight. That was only $20. All this week J and I have been sharing a cord, and it's been a hassle--although I'm definitely grateful we can use the same cord. Thank you, Toshiba.

Yesterday J's gum began aching, and again, long story short, he got into the dentist today. It turned out to be an abscess in his gum; he has now an antibiotic mouthwash, and some penicillin, which  we didn't even have to pay for. It turns out we have credit at the dentist...

This morning J's phone died, and so we had to unexpectedly order a new one, which will be delivered tomorrow or Saturday. Small world: it turns out to be the exact same model his son here has, so Z will be able to show his dad all about this phone. Sigh. No, we weren't planning on buying a replacement phone.

Finally, today I was to have had my second PT appt, but due to an emergency at work (one of the two pregnant MAs was admitted to the hospital tonight, 3 weeks prior to her delivery date) we were all called into joint interviews for two prospective replacement MAs. Then the lead MA decided to have a meeting  of all of us after that--to discuss the interviews and other things--so I had to reschedule my appt til tomorrow.

Both of the prospective MAs seem fine to me, but with Jennifer being admitted, the lead MA was planning madly for who will be covering for her. She started out by saying "E**, you'll cover for her Monday, and SF-- you'll take over E's job..."  when I held out my hand and said "ah, Lead, I won't be here Monday--I'm going on my vacation, remember? I'll be gone all week."

Her mouth fell open, and she was utterly shocked; "oh! I thought that was the week *after*!...well, alright, then I guess *I'm* covering...well, I'll work on the schedule over the weekend..."

So the rest of the meeting was a kind of a scramble: ED is leaving also, and has already transitioned; he works just 3 days now at our office, and the other two days he is at his new job, til his replacement here is hired and can be trained. (Hence the rush to fill his place.) Such poor planning...  I am SO GRATEFUL I won't be there next week. No one even bothered to congratulate me on my one-year anniversary today.

And by the time the meeting was over, it was almost 6pm. I came home just wiped out.  J had dinner waiting, and a glass of wine. I am so lucky.

Last night was a rough night: for some reason the nocturnal leg cramps are worsening both in frequency and in severity. Last night was a bad one; I can't count the number of times I was "attacked", and had to leap out of bed in agony trying to straighten out the cramps. I lost track. Suffice to say I did not sleep well, and felt just drugged from exhaustion when I got up finally this morning. It was a long day, despite PAD being in just a wonderful mood.

I prepared all my charts for next week's absence, and will be giving a crash course to Lead tomorrow. Despite that, my carefully crafted schedule of who is covering for me each day probably won't be used now that Jennifer won't be in. That does change everything... I don't know what will be happening, and I don't care. I do know that when I return from my vacation I will be working like a dog.  I don't even know which doc I will be working for. Sigh. Until then, I am going to enjoy each and every day of this next week, and not think about work. Time enough for that when I get back.

This weekend I will be getting ready for my flight on Tuesday, and picking up last minute things; I get paid Saturday.

I meet a friend tomorrow night for a walk, and then meet another friend Saturday morning before the meeting. Then, nothing except time with J.

I also got to speak with both Ja and Ni, my two sons, currently in Tulsa. It was wonderful to hear their voices. Both are managers now, and Ja was complaining on how difficult it was to find and hire good people...I had to laugh. But I'm proud of them both, despite not understanding their way of life.

I am a proud grandmother--three gorgeous little girls. My darling Gabby, Nevaeh, and Layla. I want someday to meet Layla and her mom, despite whatever happens with Ni.Thankfully, each mom wants me to remain involved.

I have so much to be grateful for.  My only daughter turned 24 this week, in a foreign country. She was celebrated, and given a party and an amazing cake by her host family, and seems to be gaining worlds of experience and breadth of outlook. I wish I could have been there , but I'm grateful she is gradually adjusting. We'll have a party here when she gets home...

Exhausted. Bedtime. So happy it's going to be Friday when I wake up.

Wednesday

It's just after 8pm, and I'm hearing owls hooting back and forth--I think they are right outside the window. So cool. Thankfully we have already put the chickens to bed, so they are safe.

And the baby chicks are safe inside: J has transferred them to a larger playpen, surrounded and secured by some plastic chicken wire. He has put two roosting sticks crossways at different heights, and amazingly they are all six lined up on the top roost, about 12 inches off the floor. They are only 3 weeks old, and already able to fly up that high!

Today I had my appointment with the ortho my own doc referred me to. I had xrays of my hips and back before she saw me. After I'd explained my three year history and the possible diagnoses of  bursitis, OA, or IT Band syndrome, my new ortho doc reviewed the xrays with me, and did an exam. She then pronounced my diagnosis as bursitis in both hips, left worse than right.

I'm relieved, because  this diagnosis actually has treatment possibilities. I began with  receiving a cortisone injection today which was quite painful by the way. She asked me to not do any long walking for a couple of days.She pointed out that this was the most painful of cortisone injection sites; I can see why. I had to focus on not moving, and to keep breathing deeply.
Next I go to physical therapy for an eval and to get a home exercise program focusing on core strengthening.
Finally I am encouraged to add some other kind of exercise in addition to my walking/hiking. She suggested yoga, swimming, or biking. Swimming is out. Yoga is a definite contender, as I have been thinking for a long time of adding something which would help relieve stress and headaches.

She thinks within 6 months to a year I can get permanent relief.  That is amazing to me--I never believed I could get permanent relief.

When I got back to work, I was able to tell PAD that this ortho doc had said the exact same thing he had suggested earlier this morning, when I was explaining to him why I had an appointment with a different doc. (She is not in our office nor is she a  part of my hospital's physicians; of the two major medical groups in town, I made a point of choosing a PCP who was not in Samaritan's roster. I don't believe in mixing personal stuff with work stuff.)

Anyway, I was recounting my hip history to PAD this morning (as I was explaining who would be covering for me while I was gone). He was clearly interested, and I think he was curious as to why I wasn't seeing one of our docs. (See above.) (My new ortho doc refers patients often to  the surgeon I work with. In fact, her MA complained to me quite loudly about how long it takes to get into the surgeon... I had to sympathize, and I said I would tell my office manager and the Dr, although privately there's certainly nothing I can do. But in the interest of good professional relations  and communications, I did give her my own direct fax and said if she needed immediate attention she could use that instead of going through the Referral dept.)


And PAD suggested if I were his patient, he'd diagnose bursitis, and prescribe a combination of physical therapy and a cortisone injection.  I think he was pleased that my own ortho doc's diagnosis matched his.  He was looking down at a paper I'd just handed him, and listening as I talked with him, and smiling quietly. (He is so weird. Very difficult to read at times.)

 Then I resumed my afternoon of rooming patients, and returning phone calls from patients, and after work we had a staff meeting which lasted til after 530. I stopped by my pharmacy to get more meds for the headaches, and headed home. My ortho doc had suggested I not walk tonight or tomorrow, or that if I did I should just do a half mile at most. Give the cortisone a chance to work. So originally I was planning to walk, but by the time I actually got home it was almost 6, and I was happy to have the excuse to not walk.

 J made us a great dinner, and we watched the news, and I did the dishes as usual.  It's  a nice quiet night. I'm relieved to have a definitive diagnosis.

Tomorrow night J's son Z and Z's gf Anna will be here for dinner. I normally don't enjoy these things especially after a long day, and knowing I have to be at work so early, but Anna also works at 8am, so it'll be an early night. 

No big plans for the weekend, although there's a great band playing out at the coast ... however, we are trying to not spend extra money. Sigh.  J is however rebuilding the window platform in the front bay window,  and also re-configuring the entry way so we can hang coats and umbrellas and Murphy's coats and leashes,  and gloves and scarves, so this is keeping him occupied. None of these cost a lot of money though. He's so good at design and build; and he does come up with uses for the various bits and pieces and "just in case" odds and ends...

S's birthday is next Monday. The package  we sent two weeks ago left NYC just last night, after being held up in Customs. (W.T.F.) It contains teabags, ibuprofen, some cortisone cream, and a couple of candy bars. Wonder why that set off alarms. Anyway, she won't be receiving a birthday present from us on the Day, so after she gets back we will do something special. I hate that we won't be with her to celebrate... I hope she tells her host family.

Only two more days in this week.  I can do this.