We first saw this pileated woodpecker last year. He sat on the stump for a few minutes and was then gone. He returned a couple of weeks ago and found the stump much more to his liking.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Stump Removal
I've wanted to have the stump out front removed since we moved in but didn't want to pay for it. I am thrilled that it is being removed for free!
We first saw this pileated woodpecker last year. He sat on the stump for a few minutes and was then gone. He returned a couple of weeks ago and found the stump much more to his liking.
Being stuck on the couch he provides a bit of entertainment for me. Pictures taken through the screen aren't that clear.
I'm not the only one that has been enjoying watching him. My next door neighbor got this picture a couple of days ago. It's hard to judge his size from the pictures but he's huge!
John got this shot of the stump. The big hole wasn't there this morning! Hopefully he'll keep working and entertaining me.
We first saw this pileated woodpecker last year. He sat on the stump for a few minutes and was then gone. He returned a couple of weeks ago and found the stump much more to his liking.
Friday, May 07, 2010
Busy Week
I have never been wiped out by surgery like this before. After my last doctors appointment I was very sick and weak for a week. I've never been squeamish before but every time I see the foot I get queasy. I've been improving steadily since then but it was only a couple of days ago that I really started to feel good. I'm still weak but I've been living on the couch for three weeks. Hopefully now that I'm feeling better I'll be able to do more each day and regain my strength. I'm certainly tired of lying here and watching movies!
Both Nikki and Twig are now a year older! I was unable to attend Nikki's party but John went and took pictures for me. She had a beautiful day and everyone had a great time.
While John was at the party my brother, who was visiting from Texas, came out to see me and we had a very nice visit. It's probably been 15 years or more since we visited, just the two of us.
Kids night resumed this week but the girls were unable to make it. The other four played outside with the neighbors and then invited them over for birthday cake. Twig loved being the center of attention.
On Thursday both Sprout's and Twig's schools had Mother's Day parties and since Bean could not be in two places at once, I got to go to Twig's. I was exhausted just getting to the car. This was the first time I tried the wheel chair that we borrowed and I was relieved we had it. The kids sang to us and then we all played Bingo. Here is Twig with the gift that he made for his Mom.
The woman who is covering my route and her husband are also friends and they stopped over after work yesterday. It was so nice to have company! She had made up a little booklet and passed it around the bus for all the kids to write their get well wishes to me. It is so sweet! I really miss the kids. I won't share any of the inside pages for their privacy but the things they wrote and pictures they drew really brightened my day.
I don't see the doctor again for another week. The only pain I'm having in the foot is from the blister so I'm hoping that I'll be able to start walking in the boot some then but I'm trying not to count on it. I was getting up from the couch wrong and managed to strain my shoulder and that is finally feeling better. I've had trouble with my other hip for years and that has been bothering me some but is also seems to be better today. I expected the swelling to be bad this morning after all I did yesterday but it really isn't too bad at all.
So all in all things are looking up!
Both Nikki and Twig are now a year older! I was unable to attend Nikki's party but John went and took pictures for me. She had a beautiful day and everyone had a great time.
While John was at the party my brother, who was visiting from Texas, came out to see me and we had a very nice visit. It's probably been 15 years or more since we visited, just the two of us.
Kids night resumed this week but the girls were unable to make it. The other four played outside with the neighbors and then invited them over for birthday cake. Twig loved being the center of attention.
On Thursday both Sprout's and Twig's schools had Mother's Day parties and since Bean could not be in two places at once, I got to go to Twig's. I was exhausted just getting to the car. This was the first time I tried the wheel chair that we borrowed and I was relieved we had it. The kids sang to us and then we all played Bingo. Here is Twig with the gift that he made for his Mom.
The woman who is covering my route and her husband are also friends and they stopped over after work yesterday. It was so nice to have company! She had made up a little booklet and passed it around the bus for all the kids to write their get well wishes to me. It is so sweet! I really miss the kids. I won't share any of the inside pages for their privacy but the things they wrote and pictures they drew really brightened my day.
I don't see the doctor again for another week. The only pain I'm having in the foot is from the blister so I'm hoping that I'll be able to start walking in the boot some then but I'm trying not to count on it. I was getting up from the couch wrong and managed to strain my shoulder and that is finally feeling better. I've had trouble with my other hip for years and that has been bothering me some but is also seems to be better today. I expected the swelling to be bad this morning after all I did yesterday but it really isn't too bad at all.
So all in all things are looking up!
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Home Again
After a month spent between the hospital and Loretto, Mom was finally able to go home last week. She was supposed to go home on Tuesday but a cold dropped her oxygen level so she ended up staying until Thursday and promising to use her oxygen during the day, which she never used to do.
The social worker at Loretto was able to set her up with home care services including a visiting nurse, a home health aid, and physical therapy. Granted, this woman does this all the time and knows how things work and Mom was gravely ill for awhile, but maybe if Mom had had some of these services before she wouldn't have ended up in the hospital to begin with. Her doctor has known how we've been struggling but because I could physically get her to his office he would not declare her home bound.
Anyway.... My brother flew in on Thursday and stayed with Mom until yesterday, which was wonderful for Mom and it was good to have someone there while she met with all the new people that will be coming. He drove out here and he and I had a nice visit on Saturday. We usually only see each other for a few hours every few years with both our families all together so it was nice to visit and catch up one to one.
Mom's only insurance is Medicare and that will only pay for all of the people she has coming to the house for just so long so we need a long term plan. My brother and sister went to an open house for PACE on Sunday. I had already called about the program and liked what I heard. They were both very impressed with what they saw and heard. The biggest draw back for Mom is that she would have to give up her doctor. (I personally would be happy to have her switch.) On the up side, they will manage and coordinate all of her care including help at home, doctor visits - including transportation, physical therapy, prescriptions and medical equipment. As an added bonus, she will be required to go to the day center at least once a month. She hates to go out but I know it's good for her and hope she'll go at least once a week and maybe make some friends.
So we have many decisions to make this month and I see more changes ahead for Mom. I'm really hoping that PACE will be the answer to keeping her in her home for as long as possible.
The social worker at Loretto was able to set her up with home care services including a visiting nurse, a home health aid, and physical therapy. Granted, this woman does this all the time and knows how things work and Mom was gravely ill for awhile, but maybe if Mom had had some of these services before she wouldn't have ended up in the hospital to begin with. Her doctor has known how we've been struggling but because I could physically get her to his office he would not declare her home bound.
Anyway.... My brother flew in on Thursday and stayed with Mom until yesterday, which was wonderful for Mom and it was good to have someone there while she met with all the new people that will be coming. He drove out here and he and I had a nice visit on Saturday. We usually only see each other for a few hours every few years with both our families all together so it was nice to visit and catch up one to one.
Mom's only insurance is Medicare and that will only pay for all of the people she has coming to the house for just so long so we need a long term plan. My brother and sister went to an open house for PACE on Sunday. I had already called about the program and liked what I heard. They were both very impressed with what they saw and heard. The biggest draw back for Mom is that she would have to give up her doctor. (I personally would be happy to have her switch.) On the up side, they will manage and coordinate all of her care including help at home, doctor visits - including transportation, physical therapy, prescriptions and medical equipment. As an added bonus, she will be required to go to the day center at least once a month. She hates to go out but I know it's good for her and hope she'll go at least once a week and maybe make some friends.
So we have many decisions to make this month and I see more changes ahead for Mom. I'm really hoping that PACE will be the answer to keeping her in her home for as long as possible.
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