I Should Have Seen It Coming...

Well I am out of hospital with a clean bill of health so far! Well not squeaky clean, but they are leaning to the idea that I had a low grade viral infection which may have caused the general malaise and fever. In the process they found some polyps in the bowel that they removed and took biopsies,  gastritis in the stomach, apparently my good cholesterol is too low, so I need to exercise more and be more diligent about diet, but all in all the reports were good. Still waiting for Cardio Ultrasound results, gallium scan and biopsy results, but I am expecting nothing major. One very bizarre thing they did find was a benign tumour on the lining of the brain. It is an old tumour though and they know this because it apparently has calcified and that takes ten years to happen. So that is not to be worried about either!

I should have the rest of the results by the first week of October when I return home from our vacation.

Yes! We are on the road again...on our way to Regina Saskatchewan, a two day stop there to rest up and pick up our grandson who is going to accompany us to Yellowstone National Park. 

Expect some pictures!

Our furst day of travelling was in Canada, but today on our second day we crossed over into the US with plans of entering back into Canada via North Dakota just south of Regina.

Mr O is always so prepared for these border crossings. Make sure there are no prohibited foods in the cooler, have your passport out and open, have your toll money ready...check, check, check!

We rolled up to border patrol booth and instantly set off alarms. First question was, "who was recently hospitalized?" I am thinking...seriously! How do you know that?!

Apparently the radiation levels in our vehicle were too high and set off alarms!

We were asked to pull over and I had to get out of the car with a guard and go to a shelter to be scanned and radiation levels taken. While that was happening they were checking the levels in the vehicle with me out of it...all good.

They really were very good about all of it, and asked for papers from the hospital but I told them it had only been a little better than a week and I had no result papers yet and before long we were on our way. 

This had happened to a relative of mine a while back but I didnt know the details and really never even thought about my nuclear tests posing a problem. I should have seen it coming though...

I joking told Mr O while I was in hospital that with all the tests and dyes injected in me I would glow in the dark, I guess I wasn't too far off eh?

I will be crossing the border again in two days back into Canada..should be interesting to see what transpires. Stay tuned!

A+ Would Be Nice, But As Long As I Pass.....

My plan the next day after reading my last post was to be a bit more positive. Goodness! It sounded like something from  Lady Sings The Blues 

and I really should have been singing something from Oklahoma instead...maybe Oh What A Beautiful Morning!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9LdIL5WCso8

I even took some pictures of my quilts airing on the line and my view from the hammock while having a little rest to add to my post.

You see I figured as long as I was on this side of the fence things were good and I really shouldn't be complaining. I even managed to finally put the last 3 sides of the border on my BFF quilt! 

I tried to pick a favourite block but that's like trying to pick a favourite grandchild...they're all unique and special for different reasons or qualities, so I gave up and decided to just show you a close up of a few different ones.

I went to the golf course with Mr.O and walked 9 holes (5km) with him in an effort to get some excercise and build up some stamina. 

It was a nice walk and I have to say I enjoyed it, but there was not much stamina built up on my part. By the time I Got home I needed a nap!

I had planned to tell you all about our little quilt show here in Tabusintac for Old Home Week

I was going to tell you all about the lovely visit from family. My brother, and cousins family. 

My brother enjoyed the sightseeing, the ocean, the campfires every night.

I even turned over my kitchen to my cousin's husband who is a chef and Italian to boot. How could I go wrong with roasted potatoes, grilled vegetables and porketta ( pork loin stuffed with spinach and sun dried tomatoes with garlic and parmesan) on the menu. 

My meagre contribution to the meal was homemade coconut cream pie.

Yes indeed, that was my plan, to blog and bring you up to speed on all the happenings at Winterpast. However I really was not feeling to perky and ended up running a fever of 100 - 101 all week and consequently I ended up at the ER to have things checked out. I must say I had a wonderful thorough Dr. who really took time to try to help me. One of the blood tests showed slightly elevated CRP (?) which caused him to consult with an Infectious Disease Specialist in Moncton who suggested I be admitted so here I sit. 

I have been poked and prodded and filled with so many different kinds of dyes that I have warned Mr O I may glow in the dark once I get home. But the good thing in all of this is that my heart has been thoroughly checked with cardio ultra sound, my torso has been injected with dye to check most organs, Have had a total body bone scan, and I am still in the process of more testing. I am going down in a couple hours for a colonoscopy and upper gastro scope, so there won't be many areas that have not been checked. Thorough blood work and head scans, have revealed that there is a brain but nothing else that should not be there. No TB, no HIV, no diabetes, or cholesterol problems.(very slightly elevated cholesterol numbers but nothing that needs meds) Still waiting on cardiac results and bone scan results etc and I know I will not pass with A+ in all the tests but as long as I pass that is what matters. There may be a few lifestyle changes to be made, but if it makes me healthier then it is worth the work. I have to say that Mr O has been my rock ( and of course my faith in God). I really feel for people who go through illnesses alone. It must be so tough. He has tended on me with meds, blankets, cold drinks, hot drinks, heat bags, ice packs, meals, encouragement and moral support etc etc etc. 

i have to tell you though, that it pays to have worry wart for a daughter because as soon as she received a call from Dad saying Mom was in hospital she booked a flight from Regina to Bathurst. She had to come and see for herself that Mom was okay. Thanks Michelle! So good to see you, even if it is For a short spell under less than great conditions.

How In The World Did This Happen!

I was a fairly healthy child growing up. No medical problems. Oh sure I had a few sniffles, measles, and mumps, but I managed to avoid chickenpox, and tonsillitis and appendicitis and broken bones etc. Even as an adult, I was alway strong and yes I had a few surgeries and a broken ankle, but for the most part I was healthy. Not prone to flues and colds etc. BUT let me tell you that since I have returned home from Arizona, it has been one thing after another! I know we had a busy winter and it was a long tiring drive home and me in my infinite wisdom thought it wouldn't bother me to jump in the car by myself just 10 days after returning home and drive 1500km back to Ontario by myself to join up with friends for a quilt retreat. It was just a week and I could always catch up on my sleep later...

After returning home I had to return back to Northern Ontario just a mere 1900km jaunt but I was flying so it was not too bad right? 12 busy days with very little sleep tending to family affairs was tiring but I could rest when I got home...I rested alright!

The very next morning after arriving home I awoke with a vicious cough that turned into pneumonia that plagued me for the whole month of June. I have never been so wiped out...between the meds and the illness I was totally useless! For 4 solid days I hardly left my bed and I was more than a little grateful for such an attentive husband! God Bless him.

I was not totally recuperated when we turned around and drove back another 1500km each way to Ontario for our grand daughter's grade 8 graduation. It was tiring but so worth it...she looked lovely and also was awarded The Math award for the school, The Music award, an Honor Roll award and General Proficiency award (highest marks in the school). Well done Emma. I wouldn't have missed it for the world!

I was blessed to be able to have a very close friend come back home with us for a week. We had planned on making a quilt together during that week. The pattern was called BFF and we really have been bosum friends for many many years. We shared fabrics and so our quilts were pretty much going to look very similar. AND we were determined to finish it in that week before her husband came to pick her up and take her away on a much deserved vacation for both of them. We spent hours yakking, reminiscing, laughing, cutting, sewing, pressing, and yes ripping! So many hours that we stayed up til 2, 3, and even 4 in the am working on our quilts. We didnt quite get the last borders on, but it wasn't for lack of trying and  I have to say they were close to being finished. 

I HAVE A PIC OF Denise and I WITH OUR ALMOST FINISHED QUILT TOPS BUT I CANNOT FIND IT RIGHT NOW...PIC TO COME LATER. 😳

Denise and her husband left to finish their vacation and the next day I absolutely crashed. I had a pinched nerve in my neck,( taking a fall while demonstrating something I'm sure was a bit instrumental) and a headache that lasted for 10 days resulting in many meds, a day at the hospital on iv, cat scans, more meds, massage therapy, my blood pressure was totally out of whack causing very weak, almost fainting spells. Oh and just when I was starting to come around from that viscious headache I fell down the stairs on the deck and planted my face on the metal chaise! Thankfully just bruised knees, a lump on my jaw and stiff shoulders and back, but nothing broken. Sheesh!

I just couldn't figure it out??? I could always keep this kind of pace before and carry on, but Mr O sat me down and explained that I had crashed; hit the wall; and then reminded me I was not 21 anymore and that I needed rest because I had 5 people coming to stay with us in just a weeks time and if I did not rest I would either be in the hospital or totally unable to cope. 

How does this kind of thing sneak up on a person? I think sometimes we think we are invincible, unstoppable, and stronger than we think. Well let me tell you I have had a rude awakening!

Remember that line in the Wizard of Oz...Dorothy you're not in Kansas anymore...

Well Wendy you are not a young woman anymore! I'm not ready to put out to pasture but I sure can't keep the same pace I used to. I always used to tell my kids and grandkids this little saying, when they stayed up too late and were dragging their butts the next day..." You can't expect to prowl with the owls at night and then soar with the eagles in the morning." Well kids...your Nan has had to take her own advice these days. So if you were wondering where I have been, now you know....for the most part in bed or at the Dr's.