Hospital Stay Day 7

Eddy at the big house

Eddy has been in the hospital for a week now. He went in last Tuesday with a high fever and has been transferred to Acute Elder Care. I am trying to stay positive but it's challenging. So much of getting better depends on the sick person themselves to feel hopeful that they will recover. Eddy is not happy, he is not speaking much to us and I am reading his mood as angry and fearful. His dementia keeps him in the present so it's hard for him to recall the information about the infection he has. He can't look back at the days and see that he is feeling better as we can. He just feels the way he feels in the moment and he can't feel great. He still has a slight temperature but is off the intravenous medication. Other smaller problems are developing as well as a result of being bedridden.

We found out a few days into his stay that his own Doctor does not have hospital privileges so we have had to rely on the ward Doctor's and RN's for answers on his condition and it's all been vague and frustrating. Test results take time, the infection spread to his blood and we are not sure where it started, was it the urinary tract or the lungs. He is getting good care but I wish he was home in his room where the dog could lick his hand and he could look at his maps and pictures as he faded in and out. Instead he is in a detail-less sterile room mostly on his own, wondering why he is there and worrying about whether he will ever leave.

Blog Update

My mother and I the summer before she died. She's my inspiration.

Good god, what has happened to me? I've been busy and yes distracted with things. The whole dog bite thing really had me absorbed for a while, the antibiotics were intense. It's been two weeks and my leg is way less painful, I might even take the bandaid off soon. Apparently the bite is sort of in the shape of a lightning bolt. Nice. I've been meaning to blog about my mom and motherhood but I've been really busy thinking about what it means to be a mom and what some of the more challenging aspects of the whole job are. We went away for a few days with Mark's sister and brother in law on their fabulous new boat. It was great as always. Eddy is in the hospital currently as he fell ill while we were away, fortunately Bar was helping with him. We worry about him there, it's nicer when we can just wander down the hallway to his room to check on and reassure him. Lots to think about which I will do quietly on my own.

Please enjoy this, a little something one of my dear friends sent over;

If a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!
Handle every stressful situation like a dog. If you can't eat it or play with it....
Pee on it and walk away.

This Dog

Luna the Dog

Thank goodness for non biting companionable dogs like this dog.

Car Show Saturday

Mar

Me

Last weekend we attended the Langley Car Show. Ever since Mark got the big red car he has been planning to go. We missed it last year. This year we were prepared. We got to Langley at about 7:30 am on Saturday morning for registration. The scene in the staging lot was impressive, we were met by makes and models of cars spanning almost 100 years, from the first electric car to vintage ambulances and pimped out hot rods. Some nut even brought an 80's 5th Avenue. It was like an equal opportunity event and with a $20 price tag, it was accessible to all and my god all were there. In the end there were about 1800 vehicles of all descriptions and years. The Langley town center streets were lined with cars, who's owners had poured their hearts, souls and funds into, and by god it was a sight to behold. There was an Elvis impersonator, perky girls touting pancakes, and pouty girls selling car shine. There was a Nascar that revved it's engine at measured intervals and like moths to a flame, the crowd flocked over at each punch of the accelerator. The excitement in the air was palpable, as was the smell of mini donuts.

So here are a few of the pics that Mark took. The cartype was the best. I fell in love with several large station wagons and some peculiar trailers. We walked around for about 3 hours in one go and just when I felt like I couldn't look at one more car, another one would catch my eye and I would once again be engrossed in the detail and design of these icons of our culture, our shiny streamlined culture.

Thanks Mark, I had the best day.

Too Much Information

Part of being the superhuman mother that I am is my ability to respond quickly to my child's queries. Take tonight at dinner for example. I had just finished eating my dinner (7-10minutes max) and I was settling in to keep Pearl company while she finished hers (10-55minutes min) and I casually mentioned that I had just started my period. Yes it's true we superhuman women can feel the exact moment the uterus lets go of its lining. Pearl asked me what it felt like and I tried to describe it in simple, not too graphic terms. Immediately she had some questions about pads vs tampons, that thing with the string hanging out was what she said. Before I know it we are up from the table and in the bathroom and I am explaining to her how tampons function, how you tear the wrapper open and which end is up. I love the teachable moment. She stops me, she needs clarification on where everything comes out, pee, poop, babies, blood. I can see she is unclear about the logistics of this new information and I feel scared, we need pictures, I start screaming, where is the book?, where is the book? I bought her an age appropriate book last Christmas about all this stuff and was secretly hoping she would take it into her room and emerge a few years later with all her questions answered. I toss the now open and plunged tampon in the trash and suggest she get back to her room temperature rice. I tried.

Firewood, finally.

I've been sort of silently freaking out about my lack of firewood now that fall seems to be fast approaching. It's way past the time that I generally find a few reasonably priced cords and coerce Mark into completely straining himself by chopping it all up in one go. With gas prices on the rise cord prices were going crazy too and a few of the local wood connections I had dried up. I have plenty of wood on my place but that takes time and a fair amount of effort. I need about 3 cords to keep the place comfortable through the winter. My sisters partner cut at least a cord in the winter, I helped by splitting and stacking it. I look at that little wood pile very proudly but it was also a reminder that I needed to get serious about getting some more. I felled 3 trees earlier in the spring, thinking I would limb them and buck them myself. I never got around to it. Last week an industrious neighbor stopped by and offered up wood cutting services. Thank the universe that watches over me.

He cut up the trees, making neat piles of the limbs and bucked rounds. I collected them up in our little trailer pulled by the rider mower. I split and stacked the lot and I think I have another cord. The wood is a bit wet and will need some time to dry, which it will do under our sweet carport. I feel a huge sense of accomplishment, I got my wood further along and helped out a member of my neighborhood community. In total my neighbor cut up the 3 trees I cut down plus 3 more that were too big for me to tackle with my saw. Additionally, he brush-hogged the whole area where the pigs were last year and also cut the blackberries off my manure pile. It was heavenly.

I have a cord each of alder and cedar and now I just need a load of fir. Dry fir if possible.

Thoughts on the RNC

I have firewood to split so I am turning to my good friend Kate for commentary. Not only do we look a bit alike, we think alike. Enjoy!

Bursting

My folks were here at the weekend. My dad and his wife came on Sunday for lunch. It's been a little while since they were down, a year I think. I was struck, as I often am by what amazing people they are. It's not their accomplishments or their possessions, it's their joi de vivre. They are on average about 80, one is older, one is younger. They look great, they are both healthy and they are both really interesting and dynamic people. My dad bounced on the trampoline with Pearl. She was amazed that at his advanced age he had never been on a trampoline. He jumped gingerly, Pearl was elated. My stepmother Molly, read a bit to Pearl and tried not to watch her spin frenetically on her tire swing which delighted Pearl. There's nothing like making someone you love vagualy nauseous. My dad talked about a book he read recently about the Shackleton expedition, he has sailed and climbed at various times in his life. We all got talking about long sailing trips and navigation at sea. I was born into a family of adventurers and now I am married to one too. Even Molly sailed to Hawaii with dad back in the 80's, they were 3 weeks at sea. Watching them at lunch I can see how much they cherish eachother after all these years together, it must be almost 40 by now. We spent the afternoon in the yard while the sun played hide and seek. My dad threw the ball for the dog and Mark showed off the big red car. These are the people I am trying to emulate in my life and I feel so lucky to have them in my own family.

We didn't take any pictures but here's an image for you. A red Prius pulls into the driveway and my wide smiling stepmother who is petite and blondish gets out, she is wearing red high heels. When I am 80ish, this is how I want to arrive.