Friday, May 17, 2013
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
05-08-2013
In a little over a week I go back to Rathfoot for a follow-up, hopefully he will be impressed. I upped my Prednisone to 10mg after a battle for soreness and closing off, oddly enough usual for this time of year. Since I don't have the other garden maybe it will go better. I haven't bush hogged yet though but the mowing has been ok so maybe that will go better this year too. Not having the beans may give the knees some time to get better too. From all this rain it is just as well, the other 2 gardens are downing, tomatoes already almost gone. I think too the mold on the ground affects me somehow.
Megan has learned to keep up with the signs and makes the most out of the days she can when the signs are right. Despite all the water, most of the plants in her area are doing well. Today we went to Sears at East Towne Mall, though I think it's called Knoxville Mall now. I bought a head for the weedeater that uses a different type of string and some shirts me and Megan found. She was shocked at how empty it was. We stopped at KFC and ate, why I have no idea. Then we decided since it was raining we'd just blow the rest of the day, so we went to the Lodge Outlet store in Pigeon Forge, or is the Sevierville, all looks the same these days. I came back with a massive deep frying skillet, we didn't have one of those, lol. I think the WOK is all we lack that they make. :) I have no idea what those are. We don't have one of those hanging 3 legged Dutch Ovens, but I ain't cooking outside unless it's on a grill, lol. It was raining today so we did our running, plus it gave my toes time to heal up a bit, broke two of them about 2 nights ago when I ran into a fan base. That day the cow got out and we had to walk the field, new experience in ouch, lol. I felt like I was at UPS all over again. I once broke two toes on the road, called in to tell them and the boss said ok. He then wanted to know what I wanted and I told him I broke two toes and wanted to know what to do. He said tape them up but be quick about it, don't get behind, lol.
We seen our first snake yesterday, a Copperhead. It crossed the driveway in front of us as we were walking down and headed into a Yucca and looked to be going towards the barn. Megan wanted to know if I was going to kill it, I think I had something in my hand. We walked to the truck and I got my shotgun out, loaded it and shot in the grass, just not in the Yucca. I think it was already gone. Tomorrow the signs are right to plant above ground so we will dig up some of these Maples and transplant them. I think though since the snake came from that area if I can I'll mow through it first and if not, weed eat a path. They are suppose to be plentiful this year as wet as it's been and both Peacocks are gone now. We will be wearing boots, lol. We live at the edge of the woods, between 2 creeks... the grandkids say we live in the woods, lol. I will invest in some young Peafowl this year and in a couple of years I'll have snake patrol again. I hear cats will keep snakes out and so far that seems to be the case... not.
Megan has learned to keep up with the signs and makes the most out of the days she can when the signs are right. Despite all the water, most of the plants in her area are doing well. Today we went to Sears at East Towne Mall, though I think it's called Knoxville Mall now. I bought a head for the weedeater that uses a different type of string and some shirts me and Megan found. She was shocked at how empty it was. We stopped at KFC and ate, why I have no idea. Then we decided since it was raining we'd just blow the rest of the day, so we went to the Lodge Outlet store in Pigeon Forge, or is the Sevierville, all looks the same these days. I came back with a massive deep frying skillet, we didn't have one of those, lol. I think the WOK is all we lack that they make. :) I have no idea what those are. We don't have one of those hanging 3 legged Dutch Ovens, but I ain't cooking outside unless it's on a grill, lol. It was raining today so we did our running, plus it gave my toes time to heal up a bit, broke two of them about 2 nights ago when I ran into a fan base. That day the cow got out and we had to walk the field, new experience in ouch, lol. I felt like I was at UPS all over again. I once broke two toes on the road, called in to tell them and the boss said ok. He then wanted to know what I wanted and I told him I broke two toes and wanted to know what to do. He said tape them up but be quick about it, don't get behind, lol.
We seen our first snake yesterday, a Copperhead. It crossed the driveway in front of us as we were walking down and headed into a Yucca and looked to be going towards the barn. Megan wanted to know if I was going to kill it, I think I had something in my hand. We walked to the truck and I got my shotgun out, loaded it and shot in the grass, just not in the Yucca. I think it was already gone. Tomorrow the signs are right to plant above ground so we will dig up some of these Maples and transplant them. I think though since the snake came from that area if I can I'll mow through it first and if not, weed eat a path. They are suppose to be plentiful this year as wet as it's been and both Peacocks are gone now. We will be wearing boots, lol. We live at the edge of the woods, between 2 creeks... the grandkids say we live in the woods, lol. I will invest in some young Peafowl this year and in a couple of years I'll have snake patrol again. I hear cats will keep snakes out and so far that seems to be the case... not.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
05-02-2013
I've spent the last 2 days running mom around to the doctor and to get her car fixed, tomorrow will be the same. She has done well except for bleeding behind her eyes. Dr Jaynes referred her to another doctor who referred her to get blood work done, and she still don't know anything yet. Me and Denise broke down and bought a new Sofa & Loveseat from Ramsey's Furniture store and tomorrow they're suppose to be delivering it. That meant that today when I got back we had to remove our other one to make room. We gave them to Mark & Bobbie. Tomorrow will be hectic. Pay house insurance, follow and pick up mom, be back before 9am in case the delivery is early, followed by take mom to get her car and at the end of the night take place in a dental survey on head and neck cancer.
This year I've been reluctant to plant the other garden, last year I had too much to take care of. I'm not sure if it is age, health, or a combination of the two, but I found my limit. The fingers threw me behind on things, one of which was fixing the tractor's power steering. Megan mostly, but I helped, tilled the other gardens with a tiller and the one lacking almost has to have the tractor and rotovator. Without my Peacocks to ward off snakes this year that also plays a role, but we have cats, wild cats. Two dead trees still standing... I can think of a thousand reasons to not do it. Still, maybe just a little bit, lol. If I were like I once was I wouldn't hesitate, but I'm not and there are other matters pressing. I still have the roofs to put on, the dump truck to finish, and today Denise informed me that we would put the wood floors down in the house when she takes vacation finally. We've had that flooring since 2008. I had it all mapped out when my shoulder snapped. Each week we'd get something else done. Sunroom done outside. Flooring put down. Bug put back together, maybe. I had to have a heart cath before the surgery, which went well until recovery, then it went crazy. The clot broke loose, first time I ever seen blood squirt that high up, or smell that bad. I was almost ruptured pressing the site the second time in places no man wants to feel pain. The skin was removed along with the pressure bandage and I found out blood is toxic to the body when it goes under or in the skin. By the time I was healed enough to do anything other than the basics on the Sunroom, it was surgery time. Hopefully the wood is still good after all these years in the basement.
If it doesn't rain then the tractor maybe this weekend. I've never rebuilt a steering piston, let alone two, but it can't be any harder than rebuilding an old convertible top motor on a Buick. At some point I want to replace the plumbing in Denise's mom and dad's bathroom. We fixed it a week or so ago. I'd like to take Denise and Megan horseback riding once, they've never ridden a horse and Pigeon Forge has a few of the stables to ride. Several other things need repaired too but also I'd like for me and Denise to ride the bike more than three times this year, and maybe ever do something I've been going to do for over 30 years, go fishing. I'd also love to finish just one of the cars I started back then and take the Skylark out, drop the top and go on a picnic. I'm not sure I'll do the bigger garden this year. We all have a bucket list and that is mine. I figure if I'm gonna dream, dream big. Megan in her own part.
![]()
This year I've been reluctant to plant the other garden, last year I had too much to take care of. I'm not sure if it is age, health, or a combination of the two, but I found my limit. The fingers threw me behind on things, one of which was fixing the tractor's power steering. Megan mostly, but I helped, tilled the other gardens with a tiller and the one lacking almost has to have the tractor and rotovator. Without my Peacocks to ward off snakes this year that also plays a role, but we have cats, wild cats. Two dead trees still standing... I can think of a thousand reasons to not do it. Still, maybe just a little bit, lol. If I were like I once was I wouldn't hesitate, but I'm not and there are other matters pressing. I still have the roofs to put on, the dump truck to finish, and today Denise informed me that we would put the wood floors down in the house when she takes vacation finally. We've had that flooring since 2008. I had it all mapped out when my shoulder snapped. Each week we'd get something else done. Sunroom done outside. Flooring put down. Bug put back together, maybe. I had to have a heart cath before the surgery, which went well until recovery, then it went crazy. The clot broke loose, first time I ever seen blood squirt that high up, or smell that bad. I was almost ruptured pressing the site the second time in places no man wants to feel pain. The skin was removed along with the pressure bandage and I found out blood is toxic to the body when it goes under or in the skin. By the time I was healed enough to do anything other than the basics on the Sunroom, it was surgery time. Hopefully the wood is still good after all these years in the basement.
If it doesn't rain then the tractor maybe this weekend. I've never rebuilt a steering piston, let alone two, but it can't be any harder than rebuilding an old convertible top motor on a Buick. At some point I want to replace the plumbing in Denise's mom and dad's bathroom. We fixed it a week or so ago. I'd like to take Denise and Megan horseback riding once, they've never ridden a horse and Pigeon Forge has a few of the stables to ride. Several other things need repaired too but also I'd like for me and Denise to ride the bike more than three times this year, and maybe ever do something I've been going to do for over 30 years, go fishing. I'd also love to finish just one of the cars I started back then and take the Skylark out, drop the top and go on a picnic. I'm not sure I'll do the bigger garden this year. We all have a bucket list and that is mine. I figure if I'm gonna dream, dream big. Megan in her own part.
Friday, April 12, 2013
04-13-2013
I went to Dr Schindler today and he looked at the fingers and said the stitches were ready to come out, so he took them out. I have a lot of faith in that man. They are still swelled and he said to keep an eye on the Pinky since it was the one that had bacteria growing in it. I guess the bones and stuff are a bit bruised is the swelling thing, still can't put pressure or grab stuff yet, but I will, it'll just take time. The end of one finger is black, but hopefully that'll change. It looks as though I have kept my fingers, minus some of the material (guess that was fat) in the last two. This could have turned out a lot worse. Proof that God watches out for idiots. :) I have the worse 2 taped up tonight, just in case. It won't be long until I can get dirty again, the grip part will come. Soon as it does I have to fix the power steering on the tractor and the manifold on the dump truck. They will be off and not running, lol. It's all good.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
04-08-2013
Me and Megan planted Carrots today... well Megan planted and I supervised. Usually this time of year I have a lot of trouble with my throat and Dr Rathfoot is expecting it to be as usual. I think he will be pleasantly surprised though when my throat doesn't close up as much from lack of gardening. I have my fingers though and I think I have past the worry of losing them to this event, thank God. The end of this week or next week, the stitches come out. I had thought that would be the freedom to go back at it at first. I was wrong again. The swelling is taking it's time going down and the bones are tender with pressure. X-Rays showed nothing broken or fractured so the bones must be bruised pretty bad inside. I think this is going to be a while yet.
I've been going without the bandages when I'm at home during the day. I believe the air helps the fingers to heal and I get a chance to exercise them. I probably get the stitches out towards the end of the week, first of next week. I thought that would be the hump over and done, but I could be wrong... again, lol. The tears and cuts are healing good and I think the bacteria is going out of the Pinky, but the swelling is slow to respond. I can bend the fingers a little but not enough to grip and the bones are sore to pressure. It's finally dry enough to load the calves but no way I can handle them, the gate, or the door. Mark always helps me with them and I'm sure he would do it if I asked him to, but that would risk injury to him. We have to have at least 2-4 people to load them up safely. I need to build a loading chute, but that takes money and time.
As usual, I go for plan B and C if I must, and thank God I have help to carry them out, else there would be no alternative plan this time. I had planned on growing a lot of different things but seed starting should have already been, soil conditioning should have too, as well as site preps. So this year perhaps much smaller than usual, less diverse as planned.... but maybe that ain't such a bad thing. Feels like it sometimes though. I have to believe, apart from my stupidity, things that are allowed to happen do so for a reason. Personally I think most things are just events, neither good nor bad, but neutral, and what we do with those events determine what they are. Sometimes we can take an event and turn it around, but I think if we allow, all things work to glorify God's love and will.
Megan has wanted to learn gardening, so here is her chance. She has the need to grow things and has studied on some things. She wants to learn to build and with her new 6 ducklings she will need to build a large pen. Instead of building it she will build it, and I will serve as a helper and consult. For a time, I will have to serve as her and Denise's helper and on some things, and an observer on others. I have no problem with any of that except being an observer. Megan wants to learn to bake bread, so this is her chance to do that too. Now if I can get her to drive, lol. I think that day perhaps she saw how important driving is. She wanted to drive me to the hospital, and I'd loved to have had her done that, except I was already in pain and injured and didn't want more, lol. I want her to be independent, self sufficient, and confident so that when we are no longer here, she will be ok and also help her mom. I know full well my condition and where I stand in longevity, so I need to step it up a notch. To help her increase as I decrease and yet do something I could not, remain with a pure heart.
I've been going without the bandages when I'm at home during the day. I believe the air helps the fingers to heal and I get a chance to exercise them. I probably get the stitches out towards the end of the week, first of next week. I thought that would be the hump over and done, but I could be wrong... again, lol. The tears and cuts are healing good and I think the bacteria is going out of the Pinky, but the swelling is slow to respond. I can bend the fingers a little but not enough to grip and the bones are sore to pressure. It's finally dry enough to load the calves but no way I can handle them, the gate, or the door. Mark always helps me with them and I'm sure he would do it if I asked him to, but that would risk injury to him. We have to have at least 2-4 people to load them up safely. I need to build a loading chute, but that takes money and time.
As usual, I go for plan B and C if I must, and thank God I have help to carry them out, else there would be no alternative plan this time. I had planned on growing a lot of different things but seed starting should have already been, soil conditioning should have too, as well as site preps. So this year perhaps much smaller than usual, less diverse as planned.... but maybe that ain't such a bad thing. Feels like it sometimes though. I have to believe, apart from my stupidity, things that are allowed to happen do so for a reason. Personally I think most things are just events, neither good nor bad, but neutral, and what we do with those events determine what they are. Sometimes we can take an event and turn it around, but I think if we allow, all things work to glorify God's love and will.
Megan has wanted to learn gardening, so here is her chance. She has the need to grow things and has studied on some things. She wants to learn to build and with her new 6 ducklings she will need to build a large pen. Instead of building it she will build it, and I will serve as a helper and consult. For a time, I will have to serve as her and Denise's helper and on some things, and an observer on others. I have no problem with any of that except being an observer. Megan wants to learn to bake bread, so this is her chance to do that too. Now if I can get her to drive, lol. I think that day perhaps she saw how important driving is. She wanted to drive me to the hospital, and I'd loved to have had her done that, except I was already in pain and injured and didn't want more, lol. I want her to be independent, self sufficient, and confident so that when we are no longer here, she will be ok and also help her mom. I know full well my condition and where I stand in longevity, so I need to step it up a notch. To help her increase as I decrease and yet do something I could not, remain with a pure heart.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Healing
I'm healing pretty quick, just not as quick as I'd like to heal. The little finger has got an infection, bacteria, or something like that. The antibiotics got me another yeast infection in the throat but already working on fixing that. In addition to the meds, turns out, Unsweetened Yogurt is actually good for that. I think I have another week before they look at the sites and take out the stitches.
I think I just killed my chance at a hand model, lol.
I think I just killed my chance at a hand model, lol.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Lawnmower
Been a little wild lately and I haven't been on the web much, probably be a while longer, one finger typing. Thursday, 3-28-2013, I was cleaning the yard and then changed lawn mowers to mow, first time this year. I was going to take a swipe out on the way up the driveway and noticed it didn't cut. I stopped the mower, disengaged the blades but left it engine running wide open and got off it. I thought maybe something was stuck so I grabbed the belt and was going to manually turn the spindle on the driver's side. I'm not sure exactly what happened at that point. Either the pressure on the belt built or whatever was sticking the spindle came loose, either way it engaged. It was like lightening, sucked my right hand through the sprocket and out the other side, tossing me to the ground. I felt the pain like a burning pain and saw blood everywhere, so I grabbed my hand. Funny what goes through one's mind at that point. I was afraid to look down, thought my fingers were gone and finally decided I needed to look. I couldn't tell from my hands, too much blood, so I looked on the ground for fingers. Finally I saw the tips still attached, but couldn't tell how well.
I walked back down the driveway, into the house, ran water over my hand and saw my fingers were still there, then I got a paper towel and wet it and applied pressure. I walked out back and asked Megan to drive it home. She saw and almost threw up. Got in the truck and drove to Dr Schindler's office. He told me he had no suture material yet and asked what I had done and was very excited. I think it freaked him out a bit. I started to leave and he said get back here and took me to the back. He began cleaning it and put a pressure bandage on it, then told me to get to the hospital. He said it didn't look like I had gotten tendons but he couldn't be sure. He had slowed the bleeding down quit a lot with his bandage. Many thanks for that, plus he calmed me down.
The bleeding was down a lot so I called Denise to tell her, tried to down play it a bit... didn't work. She said she'd come get me and I told her no, then she said she would meet me at the hospital. I had to check on Megan first, so I drove back home to make sure she was ok and tried to calm her down. She almost puked again, lol. I knew she was safe though. I think I fell behind every idiot from here to the hospital that was turtle racing, lol. I started to loose focus so I called Misty and asked if we could talk and keep me alert. I told her what I'd done and was doing, she freaked but remained calm, which kept me calm. I met Denise at Lakeway Hospital and we walked in together. Somehow lawn mower and hand just never are good in the same sentence. :)
Their ER was fast and we got a Puerton Rican doctor, his name started with an F, he was good. The whole staff was good. They started working on me about 2:30 and we finally got out about 7:30. No bones showed fractures or breaking in the X-Rays. They started an IV of antibiotics and later on gave me something for pain. That stuff did most of the trick, almost knocked me out, which was welcomed, lol. It was/is between mashed and sliced my fingers, oddly enough missing the middle finger and thumb. We went back yesterday for a check-up and they took the splints off and cleaned and put new bandages on. The little finger seems to be getting infected, so they are doing a culture on that one. The antibiotics they are giving me has caused a bad yeast infection so they gave me something to combat the yeast.
Today is the first day we dressed it ourselves and cleaned it and got a really good look at it. The index finger is the best and has 3 stitches, but cut almost all the way around at the end joint. The ring finger was the worst one that night, getting 4 stitches, split down the middle from the second joint. The Pinky is the worse one now, almost cut off at the end joint. The way the meat they left on is it could have been mashed out, or a combination of the two,not sure which, it got 3 stitches. It's back bleeding again tonight. So far I've kept the fingers, so far so good. I probably won't be on long and seldom until they get better some. I'm definitely considering a tattoo that says Stupid, lol.
I go back and get checked in 2 weeks, unless something comes up. They will then consider taking the stitches out. I am thankful for God allowing me to keep my fingers and directing me to excellent doctors and hospital. My fingers are still too swollen to bend, plus I'm almost afraid to bend them as much as they are held on by. Mark fed the cows for us, so I'm good for a few days. Megan is feeding the chickens and plans to do the garden are delayed. Happy Easter. There are miracles that still happen.
I walked back down the driveway, into the house, ran water over my hand and saw my fingers were still there, then I got a paper towel and wet it and applied pressure. I walked out back and asked Megan to drive it home. She saw and almost threw up. Got in the truck and drove to Dr Schindler's office. He told me he had no suture material yet and asked what I had done and was very excited. I think it freaked him out a bit. I started to leave and he said get back here and took me to the back. He began cleaning it and put a pressure bandage on it, then told me to get to the hospital. He said it didn't look like I had gotten tendons but he couldn't be sure. He had slowed the bleeding down quit a lot with his bandage. Many thanks for that, plus he calmed me down.
The bleeding was down a lot so I called Denise to tell her, tried to down play it a bit... didn't work. She said she'd come get me and I told her no, then she said she would meet me at the hospital. I had to check on Megan first, so I drove back home to make sure she was ok and tried to calm her down. She almost puked again, lol. I knew she was safe though. I think I fell behind every idiot from here to the hospital that was turtle racing, lol. I started to loose focus so I called Misty and asked if we could talk and keep me alert. I told her what I'd done and was doing, she freaked but remained calm, which kept me calm. I met Denise at Lakeway Hospital and we walked in together. Somehow lawn mower and hand just never are good in the same sentence. :)
Their ER was fast and we got a Puerton Rican doctor, his name started with an F, he was good. The whole staff was good. They started working on me about 2:30 and we finally got out about 7:30. No bones showed fractures or breaking in the X-Rays. They started an IV of antibiotics and later on gave me something for pain. That stuff did most of the trick, almost knocked me out, which was welcomed, lol. It was/is between mashed and sliced my fingers, oddly enough missing the middle finger and thumb. We went back yesterday for a check-up and they took the splints off and cleaned and put new bandages on. The little finger seems to be getting infected, so they are doing a culture on that one. The antibiotics they are giving me has caused a bad yeast infection so they gave me something to combat the yeast.
Today is the first day we dressed it ourselves and cleaned it and got a really good look at it. The index finger is the best and has 3 stitches, but cut almost all the way around at the end joint. The ring finger was the worst one that night, getting 4 stitches, split down the middle from the second joint. The Pinky is the worse one now, almost cut off at the end joint. The way the meat they left on is it could have been mashed out, or a combination of the two,not sure which, it got 3 stitches. It's back bleeding again tonight. So far I've kept the fingers, so far so good. I probably won't be on long and seldom until they get better some. I'm definitely considering a tattoo that says Stupid, lol.
I go back and get checked in 2 weeks, unless something comes up. They will then consider taking the stitches out. I am thankful for God allowing me to keep my fingers and directing me to excellent doctors and hospital. My fingers are still too swollen to bend, plus I'm almost afraid to bend them as much as they are held on by. Mark fed the cows for us, so I'm good for a few days. Megan is feeding the chickens and plans to do the garden are delayed. Happy Easter. There are miracles that still happen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)