May 30, 2012-A Better Day!

First to catch up on yesterday. My brother happened to be in Herkimer when his wife called him about my e-mail. (See previous post) He called me and said he could go get the chair that morning. But he needed someone to help him and he's not talking to my brother, Steve at this time. That's all over something that happened out in NH at my niece's husband's funeral service. So I called my cousin Gloria to ask if maybe one of her sons could help. Tom was supposed to be at work at 10 but he said he'd go with Jim. So I e-mailed Aunt Bev to get her phone number. Every time I tried to call there was no answer. I thought maybe they had gone out to breakfast. So I finally decided to send her another e-mail and she wrote back with the correct number. She had given me the wrong one. But I told her that Jim would be coming out there. She was going to lunch with her sister at 11:30. Jim made it out there just in time. He got back to my place at 12:30. He and Tom got the chair in. I tried it right away and what a difference! It was so easy for me to get out of. Worked perfect and looks brand new. I can't thank Bev and Ken enough for that wonderful gift. It's going to make my life a lot easier. So I had my recliner to get rid of now. I called my daughter and she didn't want it so Gloria said she'd take it. So since Jim had to take Tommy back anyway, they took the chair too. That all worked out perfect.
And Jim lifted my air conditioner up onto my step stool for now. Now I can fit a pail underneath and that problem is solved. I will still get some sort of a stand for it because I might need my step stool and it has that long handle on it. But I'll worry about that another time. So the day ended good even though it started out bad.
My daughter couldn't come over and she might not today because yesterday Jessi was home from school sick and today she's taking Salena up to Syracuse to see the doctor. Salena is having pain in that hip again. I sure hope nothing has gone wrong in there. But I also wish she wouldn't play those rough sports. If it was me I wouldn't have let her play soccer this year. But Nina said the doctor released her to play. I'd go by my own gut feeling more than what the doctor says.
Last night I slept on the lift chair. I still didn't sleep well but a little better than the other two nights. I wake up with every little noise. I could hear a mouse running all through the walls. Ha! Then at 4 am my turtle decides to start walking around. And she makes a lot of noise! She was in my bedroom closet. So I just shut the bedroom door and tried to go back to sleep. I did for a while. Got up at 6:30 am when I heard the squirrels jumping on my windows.
Imagine how peaceful I'd have it if I didn't have my own critters and the outside ones to worry about. But they are my only entertainment here. Of course it wouldn't be that peaceful with the lady upstairs making noise all the time too. At least when I'm in the living room I don't hear the toilet as loud like I do in the bedroom. It's always quieter in the living room. There must be some insulation between the ceilings in there. None at all in the bedroom! Just where we need it too.
I have never felt so tired as I did this morning. I have to catch up on all that lost sleep I guess. But they say you can never catch up once it's lost. I wish I could take naps but I have never been able to. Not with my birds bugging me all day. And the squirrels.
I never did get around to calling about the hospital bed. I will today though.
Hope you all have a nice day. The sun is shining this morning. We had storms yesterday afternoon. I'm glad it stayed nice while Jim was moving chairs.
Take care everyone.

Haven't Slept In two Days-May 29, 2012

It sure has been a rough two days. I haven't gotten any sleep. The couch is so uncomfortable and I can't turn or move at all on it. I tried the recliner last night but that was worse. Then when I tried to get up it was so hard and I heard my elbow crack. I sure don't need another broken bone.
One good piece of news though! My Aunt Bev is giving me Ken's lift chair!! He doesn't like that one and wants a different one. What a Godsend that is going to be. Just to be able to get off something without all the pressure on my hands and arms wil be so great! I've been wanting a lift chair for ages but couldn't afford one. Thank you so much Aunt Bev and Ken!! Now all I have to do is find two guys to go pick it up for me. I'm asking my brother, Jim first. Am waiting for an answer from Patty. (His wife) I sent her an e-mail this morning.
The next thing I'm going to do today is call someone about getting a hospital bed. If I can get one through Medicare it would be great. I could lift the head part up and raise the bed and get off of it so easy. No more struggling to get off a bed. It's the sitting up part that is the hardest and if it's not high enough I have to push so hard with my hands to get off. My shoulders and hands are so weak from all the years of pushing up from things. I never complained all my life living with this stuff, but now I'm getting to the point where I can't do it any more.
This morning is the first time I've felt like giving up in a very long time. I feel like crying and have to get out of this mood. It will as the day passes I hope.
My air conditioner is giving me grief also. It's a portable and the water is supposed to disapate but mine is not and the resevoir is getting filled and knocks the power off till I empty it. The trouble with emptying it is the drain plug is right near the floor. I can't get a pan under it to catch it. I have been trying to let a cookie pan catch it then I empty that. but have you ever tried to lift a cookie sheet full of water? I am spilling more onto the rug than I am getting it dumped into a pail. And I can't bend over like that any more. Now I think if I had a little wooded stand to set the unit on then I could put something under it to catch the water without having to struggle so much. Right now it's running but as soon as it fills up the unit will shut down again. And these are the hottest days we've had. Now you know why I feel like crying.

My daughter is coming over either today or tomorrow to help me move furniture around in my bedroom. It's a good time to move my computer desk and dresser, when there's no bed in here.
I have had a wicked back ache since taking the air mattress down and getting that air conditioner out. The pain is unbearable on my left side.
Got to run. I'll finish this later.

Sunday, May 27, 2012-Got My AC Out

I finally decided to get my air conditioner out of the closet yesterday. Had to move a piece of furniture . It sure isn't easy any more to do things. I get so tired. Today I have a wicked back ache. But at least I'll be prepared for the high heat and humidity. We've lucked out as far as the weather. Yesterday was a beautiful day. Low humidity and 75 degrees. Today it's nice and sunny so far. Good for the people who like to have picnics. They better enjoy today because tomorrow they are calling for rain.
I have a major problem now. Not my health but my BED! I have been sleeping on an air mattress for over two years and now there must be a leak in it. By the time I wake up the air is just about gone. I filled it three time yesterday. So now I will have to sleep on the couch for the first time in my life until I can figure out how I am going to afford a mattress. I'll never get another one of those things. I was never comfortable on it. It's going to be very uncomfortable on the couch too. I won't be able to turn around and getting up off it isn't easy either. I avoid sitting on my couch and recliner because it's too hard to get off of. The recliner sits too low and the couch doesn't have two arm rests. I can do it but it is an effort and now that my left thumb is hurting all the time it's not easy. My right hand hurts now and then but I can use it. Still hurts from the broken wrist.
I think I will have to look into getting a hospital bed. That's if Medicare will pay for it. The lady down the hall said they did for her. It sure would make it easier to get out of bed. I could hardly get up this morning because all the air was just about gone and it was too low for me. I have a folding frame for a twin bed and I had gotten the air mattress that was 14 inches high also so I could get up easy. What a bummer. It's always something.
But anyway, I'm going to relax and enjoy watching the critters today. Already saw the mommy and daddy foxes. They came out one at a time. Hope to see their babies soon.
You all have a nice weekend!

May 25, 2012-Hot Days Ahead-Yuck

I went out at 7 am this morning. Had to go to Abuchon for critter food and then to Walmart for a few groceries. I wanted to beat the heat and crowds. It was 65 degrees at that time already and very humid. I was back home shortly after 8:00. Then it started to rain a little. Just made the humidity worse. Later the sun came out though and we never did get any more rain. Tomorrow will be nice, but hot, then rain for Sunday and Monday. Going up close to 90 on Monday they say. Glad I'm inside but I guess it's time to drag the air conditioner out. That means moving a piece of furniture and wrapping foam around the part that goes in the window so no bugs get in the cracks. It doesn't fit tight to the window. And I cover the hole where the air goes out so the squirrels don't go inside the hose. I have a portable in case you are wondering..
It's not too bad inside today but as the days stay warm it will get warm inside. Right now it stays about 70.
I see the adult foxes every evening and in the mornings but no pups yet.
I'm feeling lots better. My leg and knee aren't hurting too bad. My belly irritation isn't as bad either. But I'm using the Stomahesive powder and barrier wipes all the time now. As soon as I clean all around that area it starts itching till I get the powder on. But the real bad sores have healed, thank heavens. And the flange is sticking pretty good but I'm changing it every three days just to be safe because I do start to feel a slight sting by the third day. I think that is when the powder and barrier starts to break down. I guess I better call my doctor for prescriptions for the barrier wipes and powder. I've been paying for that stuff myself. They aren't cheap.
Not much else going on. Haven't heard from anyone. I hope you all have  a nice weekend, wherever you are.
Take care.

May 22, 2012-Company

I got through the two hot days okay. It helped that the humidity was low. Yesterday it was nice in the morning but clouded up later in the afternoon and we had a few sprinkles. And it was cooler.75 instead of 85. Today it's damp morning and we might get some thunderstorms during the day. At least I won't have to close my drapes. I actually like rainy days but not the humidity .
I finally got some laundry done the other night. I didn't get done till after 11 pm. I did it at night because that's when it's quieter and maybe no one will be wanting to do theirs at the same time. I hate doing laundry because I have to clean all the machines first and mop the floor and clean off the tables. Lots of these people never clean up after themselves and the building landlord never hires anyone to clean this building. But I'm glad that job is done. Next thing I have to do is clean out the closets. I have to wait till I feel good and have the energy. I have been feeling a bit better lately though! Then I try to do too much. But when you feel good it sure makes a difference! I still have to be real careful not to twist that knee. I almost did yesterday and could feel the crunchy bones inside. Or ligaments.
Jane finally called me after almost a month. She's been busy taking care of four kittens that were outside my sister, Debby's house. They are feral cats so Jane wants to get the kittens used to people so they can be adopted.. She tried to trap the mom but couldn't. The kittens are old enough to be away from her though.  Now Ilion has a law that if you are caught feeding feral cats you will be fined $100. So Debby better be careful. She's been feeding an old stray for quite a while.
Alysha has been home for a few days. She and Steve went up to see Gavin on Saturday. Gavin and Cortney were having a party for Xander's first birthday. But his birthday isn't till June. It was more of a going away party for Cortney I think. She is leaving to go into the Army on June 12th. While she's going through basic training Gavin will have to watch the baby, along with Cortney's father. Then they are hoping to get an apartment wherever Cortney is going to be stationed. It sure is not going to be easy.
Steve and Alysha stopped over yesterday to visit for a while. She's so thin. I know it's been a rough month for her, with Ben getting killed, but she really needs to think of the baby now. She's going through some stressful days with Ben's sister I guess.  His sister wants things that were Ben's so Alysha is having to deal with that situation. At least people have been very generous and she is still getting her rent paid by the company. There can't be any lawsuits against the brewery because it's against the law to sue an employer.
There's still silent auctions going on to help the baby's trust fund. One is going on in Rome from a place called, "Under The Umbrella". It's an online auction. I guess it's a friend of Alysha's sister, Faith and faith set it up.
Alysha won't have to go to work. She is getting paid by the company till the baby is born. Something to do with Worker's Comp. paying. Not sure.
Alysha also has another problem. She was not legally married yet to Ben. So she has no say on anything. All those kids had gotten was a license. But Ben had put her name on his insurance policy as beneficiary so she will at least have that. Not much though. It was only a $10,000 policy which doubled if an accident. But she hasn't seen any papers on that yet.
My daughter. Ginny, called me Sunday. She still won't say where she is. She was riding a bike and Othiniel was with her. He talked to me for a couple minutes too. He seems happy wherever they are. But wishes he had a place to go fishing. I figure they must still be in PA because she had to go because it was getting dark and it was just getting dark here too. So at least I know she wasn't back out in MN. I'm thinking she might go back to TN though so the boys can see their dad. At least Ginny's legs are feeling lots better and she can ride a bike again. She said they are doing okay. Which means that she's really not but as long as she has a roof over her head then she's not going to complain.
So that's about it for now. Time to start my day. The squirrels were on my window at 6:30 so I got up at that time. Jasper came out from under my bed and was wandering around so I put her back in the tub. Every morning she does that now. Wants to go in the water for a while and then wants to get abck out. She still won't eat and is very restless. I know she must have eggs coming. Just hope they aren't stuck inside of her. But she's walking around good. I think that back leg is getting stronger. The exercise is good for her.
I'm adding the picture I took of Steve and Alysha yesterday. Have a nice day everyone.