The New Water Cooler
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Presents wrapped in packed to mail to AK and FL. I'm glad Rory and Hannah opened theirs with us and took them home. What a job. It will cost me a small fortune to send the boxes (3) but it is once per year. FL family gets two boxes since kids' toys are in them. We bought Halen and Ellis a Yoto Mini with cards, case and headphones per Chantrelle's request. I had it sent directly to AK when I ordered online.
Still snowing and blowing but plow has been here so we can get out if needed.
Just received Christmas text about what to bring to Becky's Christmas Eve. I will take dessert. Now to figure out what to make.
How are your Christmas preparations and festivities moving along?
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Waiting to hear about the new grandson. Karah was induced this morning. They usually take their time letting us know details. My guess is they haven't chosen a name yet so are waiting to give us info.
We went to my great nephew's 2nd bday party this afternoon. He was so in to it! Such a cutie.
I went to the dermatologist before the party. I told her she couldn't biopsy anything before Christmas. I'm not wearing bandages and dealing with that until late winter/early spring. She has three spots she is watching and two are on my face.
I mailed the Christmas packages today so that is done. Yay!0 -
Lynn and I were suppose to go to a sale and out to lunch this morning. I knew when she texted me earlier and told me to call her when I woke up she was in crisis. I took her to the ER this morning by noon, and we spent the afternoon there. She woke up with inflamed wrists, fingers and knee joints and could barely walk or grip/lift anything. She was fine at the bday party for her grandson yesterday afternoon.
I first told her to call her doctor and see if the doctor or nurse on call for the weekend would call back. She couldn't find the right link on the phone to leave a message. I made her some protein packed mini egg quiches in a muffin tin because I think she has not been eating anything that is nutritious. On Friday she existed on sugar only. Her diet is horrible because she has extreme back pain and it zaps her energy and appetite. She couldn't get through to the doctor's office so I said I was picking her up to go to the ER. I knew they would run a blood panel and do whatever tests necessary. Luckily, no one was waiting and we got right in. Amazing...
Blood panel showed higher than normal hemoglobin which could indicate dehydration, elevated white blood cell count, sed rate and creatinine which indicates inflammation. Luckily, no infection in her body or in her blood. She is prone to Sepsis. Kidney function looked good so that is a plus too. So they gave her a steroid and fluids through an IV and cut her loose. She has to take Prednisone for a week and pain meds as needed. I got her set up with water to drink in quantity when we got to her house. She has difficulty gripping and pouring using her hands due to the pain and swelling. If she and I hadn't had plans I never would have known she was in trouble. She had to tell me because she couldn't function and needed help. Her typical MO is to wait so long to get medical help that she is near death from infection. I told her we weren't doing that this time.
How are you and are you finding time to get ready for Christmas?0 -
That IV of steroids worked magic on Lynn. I talked to her this morning and she was hyped and chatty. She hasn't sounded so good in a long time. She said her back even felt better but not pain free. The steroid took the edge off the pain. I told her to mention that to her doctor and see if they can figure something out to relieve pain. The swelling in her joints went down and she has use of her hands. I am taking her a meal in a bit and then going to visit Sarah at the nursing home. Even though my parents have passed on, I seem to have plenty of people to help and take care of in my retirement. More motivation to be healthy and more fit.
Temps have warmed up and snow is melting. We will get more mid week but the misty rain has depleted the snow banks and cleared the roads.
Enjoy your Sunday!0 -
Wow. You have had a lot going on in the last few days. I’m sorry your sister went through that but am glad you were able to get her to help before she became too sick. And it is also wonderful to hear that the treatment really improved things for her.
The weather was beautiful here this weekend. I am not looking forward to the snow and ice. You have really had a lot of it up there already.
Hopefully that baby is here and healthy and mom safe and healthy too.
Sunday boo0 -
Baby arrived Friday Eve around 8pm. His name is Hayden Wesley Major and he looks just like Miles when he was a baby. He weighed 7lb 2oz. I can't wait to meet him.
I visited Sarah today and took a meal to Lynn. She is so much better and the steroids have her pretty energetic and upbeat right now.
Sarah seemed tired and confused as usual. I spent quite a bit of time with her since her husband leaves at 2pm to do his grocery shopping and have Sunday Eve on his own. She was pretty tired and her eyes were drooping by the time I left. My friend's mother lives there too. I saw her in the hallway and she wanted to know what I thought of how Sarah was doing. She is worried about her because she sits in her wheel chair and stares out the window or at the shade, if down. She only leaves her room for meals and if someone wheels her to movement class. I don't think my friend's Mom realizes the degree of damage to Sarah's brain. She thinks Sarah should want to get better and go home but isn't trying. I think therapists couldn't justify more tx due to lack of progress. Insurance was done paying and John applied for Medicaid. That took more than 6 months and now he is advocating for a PT evaluation. She has regressed so much I don't know how it would go or if they would see her. Sad!!
Our snow is melting now that it is 40 degrees outside.0 -
That’s really sad to hear about Sarah. It’s good you and her husband are doing what you can.
Happy Hayden arrival! Blessings!0 -
ZACH GOT THE JOB AT BD!!!!!!! Thank you God. Thank you Lord. Thank you dear J for your additional prayers. I am a happy for him. I am so relieved. I so happy for him. He said I finally don’t have to cringe when people ask how the job search is going. Woooo!!!!! I’m finally excited for the new year. January 14 starts the new start. Woooooo!!!!!!0
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Congratulations to Z on his job!!! My heart skipped a beat when I read your announcement. I am so happy for him and he must be too.
We have another storm coming through tonight through Thursday. Russ was suppose to do the a book delivery in the northern lower peninsula of MI for Power Books but told them he won't do it this week with the snow expected and high winds that will cover the area he would be driving.
I went to Aquafit this morning. I had missed 3 classes due to weather and Thanksgiving. I'm guessing Thursday's roads won't be good so I may miss again.
Tomorrow I will put the ornaments on the tree and then enjoy the tree.
I bought yarn to start Layney's poncho. I would like to take it to FL when we go Jan 31.
I hope your week started off great I imagine with Z's news it has been great. When does he start?0 -
January 14th!!!
Wow, your trip to Florida isn’t too far away. And more snow, yikes. I think we are due to get our first precipitation this week. Boo.0 -
Winter Wonderland here today! I went to Power Books to help out and the director sent us home at 2:30 due to snow and the winds that will eventually pick up. It is beautiful today but visibility coming home was about 1/8th of a mile.
We really need to confirm our hotels, etc. for February. I told Russ this weekend is our deadline to firm up our plans. I need to send off a few Christmas cards. I've received less this year than typical and I don't always send them out so I've probably been taken off some lists. I'm fine with that. They seem to be a thing of the past.
I made Sourdough Cheesy Crackers from my Sourdough Discard this morning. Pretty tasty! I will continue to make them when I have discard to use. I used up my jar making these which isl a good thing. It will take a couple of weeks to build up the discard supply again.
I still have to get the ornaments on the tree. I spread the branches and I'm ready to do it tonight with a glass of wine or tomorrow with hot cocoa (maybe both), LOL!
Maybe I will make some bread tomorrow while decorating the rest of the tree.
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Tree finally decorated. Drive way drifted in so no where to go today. Lots of drifts and blowing snow.0
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It sounds like I may be having Christmas dinner. So I guess I better get the tree going. And I am finally feeling more cheerful with Zach on a path for moving forward. So maybe merry!
Things at very wintery up there for you. Take care0 -
Do you switch with your sister on who hosts?
I need to bake cookies and put together a cookie dessert tray for our Christmas Eve dinner at my sisters. I ordered a dozen frosted Christmas sugar cookies from the local bakery. I will put a few on the tray with home made ginger crinkle cookies, short bread dipped in chocolate, peppermint bark and a few odd assortments.
I made a bread dough last night and will bake it this afternoon to go with Russ' veggie chili. I put swiss/gruyere cheese in it so we will see if it bakes well. If not, he bought a baguette as a back up per my request.
The sun is finally out. The snow will begin to melt this weekend due to 40 degrees temps. What a weird winter so far.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend.0 -
Ooh ginger crinkle… do you have a good shortbread recipe? I had the most delicious cranberry orange shortbread cookie from our local bakery last weekend and I have been thinking about it ever since
My mom has been having Christmas up in Wayne for the last few years since they moved up there. And last update mom still wants to have it.
We had freezing rain yesterday. Slick here but Omaha got it really bad. I hate ice. Hopefully it melts today0 -
Sloppy outside with temps around 40. Yuk!
I volunteered at Power Books and just got home. Now they are closed until after the New Year. Russ and I booked our places to stay in New Orleans, Laurel MS, and Nashville. We will wait until it is closer to the time we leave and come home to book hotels to stop at on the way to FL and between Nashville and home.
I have never made shortbread but found 4 ingredient recipes to make an 8x8 pan. They are bars and I will cut them small and rectangular. You could probably search Pinterest for a shortbread recipe with cranberry and orange and will get several recipes.
So you will go to Wayne to your parents for Christmas? Is your Mom able to handle it or do you and your sister do most of the work?0 -
Class and hot tub felt good today.
I went to a specialty cheese shop and found some good Asiago and aged Swiss to use in my next baking of sourdough.
I was going through our bank statement and discovered I had been charged for learning kits I ordered two years ago for Miles in FL. I did not re order last year but they had my order from 2022 as continuous until canceled. I don't know how that happened because I made sure not to order for more than one year in case they didn't like the kits. I finally found a human at KiWi Co to talk to and canceled the order I never knew was happening. Poor Karah has been receiving monthly learning kits for two years for Miles and didn't want them to continue after one year. Glad I caught it.
I am enjoying my pine scented candle, luminaries and tree lights while Russ is gone delivering books for Power Books.
I made croutons with my sourdough Christmas loaf that was getting stale. They are cooling on the stove top.
I messaged David in Japan. He said he will arrive back in Homer on the 22nd and will surprise Chantrelle and the girls. They don't know he will be home for Christmas. I wish I could see their faces when he shows up.
Did Z start his job yet?0 -
Aw, how exciting he gets to be home for Christmas
Zach starts January 14, but has been getting a lot of the onboarding stuff going
I am only working through tomorrow this week. Thursday I am taking Caleb to the oral surgeon for his wisdom teeth appointment. Assuming unless something weird happens they’ll remove and then I’ll get to spend several days worrying about him as he recovers. As least I know he has to stay home for several days because the surgeon says so.0 -
Work is nuts this week. It was going to be super busy anyway with people getting ready for holiday and having to do month end work this week, but they threw in all these meetings for the new ERP system (the system that runs all the order entry, scheduling, purchasing, forecasts, engineering, etc) because it worked for the consultants. Well basically no one in our team is available due to people on vacation, out sick and no way I’m rescheduling. But it’s not a great look for the team and it’s stressing me out. But if my boss didn’t think she needed to be there it should be fine for me to miss. But why do I feel so bad? Because I saw the operational excellence (gag) lady come stomping into our area wondering why we weren’t at the meeting. Thanks Dawn for making the team look bad0
