Day 13: Thankful for sheep.

This morning before going to the hospital, I had to load up 2 lambs and take them up on the mountain to a slaughterhouse. I have 4 people who are getting halves.

It's a process getting to the 2 I needed. Call friends to come help. Put up the boundary fence. Get them all over to this side of the farm. Get the feed pans and feed. Get them all in the stall with the door. Let most of them out. Wait for friends to get here. Get all the sheep back over to the other side, except the few who are still in with the 2 leaving. (It's easier to catch the 2 when there are more in the stall. Not much room to bolt then.) Take fence down. Drive Trooper in as close as possible to stall.

Friends got here. Me and Craig went in and got rope around one. Stephanie was going to shut the door after we get the one lamb out. Then open the door to put him in the Trooper. Well, she didn't get the door shut fast enough and they all got out. Craig held onto Bo and I grabbed Tater Tot and help on. And Stephanie got the door open and we put the first one in then got the other one in! Done! So easy with more hands and bodies to help.

This was all the sheep except the 2 new smaller rams. They weren't used to this routine so stayed out. Looks like sheep stuffed into a stall, right?

And here are the boys. Their first and last car ride. They were so good. And I thanked them all the way for what they will be doing for so many people. And what a good life they've had here, with all their friends and moms. I am so thankful for these guys.

Just an update on Tiny. His doctor has raised ALL his meds up. He'll be in the hospital at least a minimum of 5 days, but will probably be more than that. He has also developed a sore mouth from all the antibiotics they're filling him full of. I just want him home. I asked the doctor if laying in bed for days at a time, being on all this fluid and eating fruit several times a day, had anything to do with the high numbers and he said yes it does. I had him up today, walking up and down the halls. He needs to be up. It's not like he's bedridden and can't be up and moving. The doctor agreed. So, on the way to the hospital in the morning, I'm stopping to get him plain yogurt for his mouth. Because it could be days before he gets the stuff the doctor ordered for his mouth. It took a few days to get his cream for his feet. Can ya tell I don't like hospitals or doctors?

Day 12: Thankful for friends and family.

Right now, I am so thankful for family and friends. For all the prayers being sent up for my husband and even me. Last night, I emailed our church to be put on the prayer chain. This morning I had several calls, concerned friends. Even the preacher came to visit him. It's nice, if he has to be in the hospital, to be so close to family and friends. Last time, 5 years ago, he was in Memphis, over 6 hours away. In Feb. And it was freezing! And Obama was being inaugurated. Bad time for all. And so far from home.

This is an old Pres. church in St. Elmo a block from the house me and Tiny met. I love this church. And it's always so pretty. I had to turn around and take pictures of it today on the way to the hospital. It just feels so friendly. My daughter and I went there a few years ago. It's all wood inside. Nice people but long service.

Thank you all again. I hope to have happier posts again soon.

Day 11: What I come home to.

My good friends  Stephanie and Craig came this evening and let the dogs out, gave them their bones, gathered eggs and locked up the chickens. Even checked on the goats and sheep. They are the best. They even left on the porch light and dining room light.

So this is what I saw tonight when I came home from the hospital. My best dogs ever. Stella and Bubba. sitting on the window box, all excited to see me. I love these dogs. (Sorry for the red eye and flash.)

My husband called early this morning. 1:30 this morning. Scared me to death. I saw it was his name on the phone and said hello. Hello hello. I could hear him talking but nothing. I kept saying hello. I thought I was dreaming. It was so weird. I kept trying to get him to hear me. He was talking to a nurse and telling her his doctors names. I finally hung up and called him back. He answered right away. He said he had looked on his phone to get my number. Didn't know he called me.

Anyway, he said they had just done an ultra sound on his legs. They found a blood clot behind his right knee. He got a shot to break it up. We don't know if it had been there for awhile or just happened. And he was hungry so had some crackers and milk. And was freezing cold. Covered up with 4 blankets.

I could not go back to sleep after that. It was 1:30 in the morning on May 28th that my mother called to tell me my step dad had just died. So when I saw the time on my phone, it freaked me out really bad. I did finally lay down and slept a little. But it really shook me up. But then, I thought if my husband had died, the hospital would have called, not him. Geesh.

I was at the hospital til about 7 tonight. Both daughters came. Poor Abby is so sick with a sinus infection. I am making her some elderberry syrup right now. I still hate when my kids are sick.

Tiny has something called Venous something. That's what the wound specialist is saying is on his feet. She explained how this happens. Especially to diabetics. So she had ordered a silver steroid cream to put on the wounds. But it had not come in when I left. So his feet have not been treated at all. He is being pumped full of antibiotics though. Blood pressure and blood sugar are quite high right now as well. With all he's been getting, it's to be expected.

Oh Lord, this is really something I have not prepared myself for. I know people go through this all the time. I was just not ready. My mother wrote a post about him. How he always gets me roses for our anniversary and how he waited til he got nearly home to go in to get a dozen roses for me. As sick as he was, he got me roses. Then called me and said he didn't think he'd make it home.  It hasn't hit me yet. I love him.

He's here. But not home.

I got a call from my husband about 2. He was at his truck parking spot where he parks his big truck and gets in his pick up truck to go home. He said he didn't think he could make it home. He was shaking like a leaf and felt sick. So I called both daughters, who live just a few minutes from where he parks and could be there faster than me, 20 miles away.

So they got him and were going to take him to Urgent Care in Ft. O. We all got there and they sent him straight on to the ER. They were waiting for him. Went right in an ER room. He had a fever and had thrown up before they got there. Really weak. Could hardly walk.

Quite graphic here. So sorry.

While I was taking care of business, he was getting into a hospital gown. When I walked in the room, his feet were right there. And I almost passed out when I saw them. He had told me over the phone he had blisters on his legs. I was not prepared for what I saw. His left ankle on the inside was totally raw. The bottom half was red and the top part was green. Not a good thing.

Then his right ankle did have a big blister. But the outside at the ankle was red and raw. Skin off. Horrible. I was not prepared for this at all. But I made it. They came and did blood work and EKG and all that stuff. Put the IV needle in his hand. Gave him a bag of antibiotic. After 4 hours, moved him up to a room.

Doctor came in. Asked a bunch of questions, trying to figure out what happened and when. They will clean his feet and wrap them tonight. Do more tests and blood work and all that. He had a good dinner and ate everything on the plate. He looked really good when I left.

So, he is going to call his boss in the morning and tell him what's going on. I hope I can wait til they come get the truck to have help to get all his things out. It takes hours to do it alone. So I hope they will just come get the trailer and leave the truck for a few days.

I have no idea how long he'll be in the hospital. But we both think he won't be going out in that truck again. I just hope he doesn't lose a foot from this. I don't think he will, but it's possible.

I have a wonderful friend right up the road who came and gathered eggs and let my dogs out and fed them. And locked up the chickens. And she swept the house and straightened up for me. She even left the porch light on. And got cat food because I was out. She's a great friend. Her name is Stephanie. I really appreciate her. And all I have to do is call and there she is to help. I am so thankful for her.

So please, send up a prayer for him. He will need it. He is in good hands there. I really didn't want him to go to this particular hospital. It's where my step dad was for 3 weeks. And he died there. So there are a lot of memories there. And Tiny is right down the hall from his room and the ICU. It was hard for my mom to be there tonight. The first time going back there. I didn't think I'd have to go back there this soon.

PS. I AM thankful that he made it home. And that he IS here so close. 5 years ago, he had something horrible happen to him in Memphis, Tn. and was in the hospital there for 8 days. He almost died. It was SO far away from home. No one came to see him. So he's here, where his family and friends are now. And I am close too.

On his way home!

He's on his way home! Almost here. And the family is coming to dinner! I hope we are able to get the wood stove hooked up too, while he's here. We may be in for some snow later this week. And really cold temps. Not ready for this! I still have to winterize all the coops and barns. UGH!

Day 9 and 10: My husband. Again.

I missed yesterday because it was a busy day. There is a camp up the road from here called Camp New Dawn. They have a few fund raisers a year. Yesterday was the turkey shoot. I went and set up my booth to sell soap and jelly. I did pretty good. I bartered 2 hours of horse riding lessons for soap and plantain slave. I think I am excited about that. I told Mindy I want an OLD slow horse. I am too old to fall off and break something. Also bartered for a nice handmade wooden milking stool! Really love it. It's the perfect height and is smooth, unlike the old bucket I have used for years. And it was SO cold! I could not get warm there and for the rest of the day. This sunrise was yesterday morning.

And today, I am having a hard time being thankful for much. My husband is in Atlanta this morning and hasn't been dispatched. He's supposed to be home right now. I am so not liking this company he works for. They keep him out for weeks and weeks at a time. And they are supposed to get their drivers home at least every other weekend. But do they let my husband come home? NO. And he just goes along with it.

And he is diabetic. Sometimes he's even run out of his meds. For days. This has happened several times. Not good for a diabetic. And now, he has water blisters on both legs. He's worried about this. He had one for a few days. Then he called last night and has another on the other leg now. I looked it up. It can be caused by heart problems and by up and down blood sugar levels. He's already had to have a stint put in his heart, about 8 years ago. And he cannot get his levels to go low enough.

I bought some 100% pure aloe gel and some fresh Turmeric. I love this stuff. I make a paste and put it on wounds. I have used it on my foot when I stepped on a nail. Bubba tore up a duck once and ripped off the whole back. It lived, amazingly. But looked awful. I mixed up a bunch of the paste and slathered it on the duck's back for several days. It got better and lived a few more years. I have also used it on my husband when he had a diabetic ulcer on his foot. Nothing else worked but this did. I use it on all the animals if there is any cuts or wounds on them.

So when he gets home, this is what we will do. Then if he can get to our favorite doctor tomorrow, he might need antibiotics, which couldn't hurt at this point. But he is so worried right now. And he needs to tell these people he needs to get home right now. He's such a nice guy and they know it and take advantage of him so much. But I guess we are both thankful he has a job and can still work. He will be retiring his next birthday next May. IF they haven't changed the laws or anything by then.

I'm sorry this is so long. I am just looking for something to be thankful for here. I think it's my husband again. Just the fact that he's as healthy as he is for being in the shape he's in is a miracle in itself and I am very thankful he can walk! He's the best husband I could have ever asked for. I just need him to get home so I can take care of him right now.

Day 8: Coryn Fiona

 My middle grand daughter, Coryn. She turns 12 years old today! Happy birthday! I went yesterday to pick her up after school to take her shopping and dinner. We had to go to theur favorite store and the one I hate the most. I won't say the name here. I don't want to promote it at all. But you may be ablt to see what it is in the 1st pic.

So this is what she wanted. She has a semi smile here. Hard to get these kids to smile too much. I love her. She is a middle child, like me. We have a lot on common.

I hope you have a wonderful fun day, Coryn! I love you so much!