Live and Learn

I was thinking about the title of my blog the other day and thought that I should be sharing more things I'm learning. I have done that sometimes in a serious way like when I have learned life lessons from my parents and in a not so serious way as when I studied the size of potato chips in relationship to the size bag they were in. But I thought I'd make my discoveries a regular feature here in a more purposeful way. Maybe you'll find something that's new to you, also.

Which brings me to todays' subjects.

The shape of incisions:
As you may remember, I mentioned here that Ward had surgery on the inside of his wrist recently. There was an interesting discovery when he got his splint off and got a view of his incision. It was a zig-zag. Before the surgery, the doctor came in with a Sharpie and initialed Ward's arm and made what I thought was just a squiggly line where he said he was going to cut. I thought he was kind of sloppy and just showing the general area where he would cut. Well, as it turned out the incision was right along the Sharpie marks. Supposedly when they make the cut that way, they don't have to pull the skin as much which results in easier access and less scarring. This was a totally new concept for me even though it has been around for a while.  (No pictures for this one because not everyone likes looking at recent incisions.)

Have you seen an incision like this?

Pi Day:
Yesterday was 3-14, Pi Day. Bless made a comment on her blog, My Two Cents,  that she didn't grow up celebrating Pi Day because they wrote their dates differently with the day first and the month second. That got me thinking that I certainly didn't grow up hearing about Pi Day either and it seemed to be a fairly recent thing. Once again, a little Googling confirmed what I thought.

It was created by physicist, Larry Shaw, in 1988, on a staff retreat for the Exploratorium (science and art museum in San Francisco.) It took off and each year involved a little more fun. They had a parade started at 1:59 (Pi_3.14159...) eating pizza pies and dessert pies, etc. It was declared a national holiday in 2009 and is celebrated around the world.

However yesterday, since we're trying to eat a little better, we didn't have any kind of pie. Not a chicken pot pie, not a pizza pie, nor an apple pie. It think this needs corrected certainly before next pie day.

Did you celebrate Pi Day with a pie?

First thought, Second thought

Well, I have definitely gotten out of the habit of posting regularly here. When I think about writing something, I can't think about much to say. My days just don't seem interesting enough to write about them. Pretty routine would pretty much describe them. Do the dishes, go to work, get an allergy shot, clean the litter box, pet the cats, etc.

Also, I try to remain mostly positive here. If nothing else, it helps me have a more positive outlook on things. Not always my first nature even without the time change. Here's a few examples of how I work at reframing things.

First thought: Ward is annoying me with the way he eats his cereal.
Second thought: Ward and I were lucky that we got to eat breakfast together this morning.

First thought: I am tired of the pain from my trigeminal neuralgia flare up.
Second thought: I'm lucky that medicine helps with it and I have to be patient while I build up doses to a therapeutic level.

First thought: I'm annoyed that the cats have been peeing outside of the litter box recently.
Second thought: We're lucky to have our elderly cats still with us and as comes with age, they don't always use the litter box.

First thought: I am worried about some stumbling blocks in my kid's life. What if it never works out?
Second thought: I'm glad that my kids are taking action to change some things in their life for the better.

First thought: I am worried about my friend and the rapidly growing growth she has.
Second thought: Don't borrow trouble until she has been to the doctor and gotten more information.

First thought: Another cold, windy day. When is spring going to be here?
Second thought: The snow didn't amount to much last night and we're going to have a sunny day.

First thought: It's time to go to work and I'm not done with this post.
Second thought: Posting something is a good start and it doesn't have to be perfect. How lucky I am to have a job with good benefits.

So there it is. Have a good day even if you don't feel like it. That's what I'm going to try to do.

This and that for February

February has flown by. I'm not sure what I've been doing, but I must have been busy for me to reach the end of the month so quickly. Here are a few things that I remember.

--I took a trip to visit my mother with my sister. During the visit we got a chance to spend some time with friends who raise goats. When not during their climbing and jumping hijinks, goats like to be petted just like any other animal. 

My goat friend sticking her nose through the fence looking for some petting.

--Ward and I spent an afternoon exploring the neighborhood. It turns out that Ward's ancestors had a large farm not far from our house. There are even roads named after them. His grandmother did some research years ago that found out that much of her mother's family was born close to here, but Ward did not remember anything about it. It was fun to discover a family connection to our new area. I may have to stop calling it new soon. We've been here over a year.

It was pretty fun to find these intersecting road signs because Ward's Great Grandmother Gillis married Mr. Perry, his great grandfather. 

There are still several large farms in the area.

--And speaking of Ward, he had surgery on his wrist this week and is going to be on light duty for a while.

Ward decided that his light duty should involve working a puzzle. 

--As you know, we got new windows last week. Now we have to do some painting and cleaning around them, but they look much better already.

A picture of one our old windows that seems to give a new meaning to "picture window". 

--Overall the weather is definitely warming and the yard is responding to this. Birds are singing and leaves are emerging. We're not out of the woods yet as far as snow and cold weather go, but it's been nice to have some warmer days sprinkled in here and there.

A few forsythia are starting to bud. They will probably freeze, but I give them credit for trying.

The crocus I planted last fall are coming up. Yea!

I guess if you fill in the rest of the month with all the regular things like work, grocery shopping, and taxes (how could I forget tax prep?) maybe that's enough to fill February. Tomorrow we get a fresh new month to fill up. It's great how that keeps happening. :)

Thankful Sunday--February 28,2018

I am thankful for 

new windows.

We knew when we moved into this house that it needed new windows. Especially the big bow window in the living room with its rotten wood and difficult windows to open and close. And as an extra aggravation, that window let in the intense afternoon sun from a southern exposure causing fading floors and a room too hot to be in sometimes.

But that all changed this week with the installation of new windows. We are looking forward to a cooler room (it was too hot sometimes even when there were freezing temperatures outside), minimal color fading, and no rotten wood. So for these beautiful new windows, I am thankful.

Understanding changes.

My mother with her mother at high school graduation.
This picture made my mother smile during my last visit.

Recently, a doctor told me that we often leave life as we come in--not being able to do many things. A reversal of things, so to speak. As an infant, we are fed, bathed, and cuddled until we learn to take care of ourselves. This is a long process that happens step by step. For some elderly, the reverse happens. The ability to take care of themselves slowly leaves step by step. They eventually need help with eating, bathing, and walking. In many ways, they are much like an infant.

That is what is happening to my mother. Each time I visit her, I find that she needs help with something else. She has progressed to the point where she needs help with nearly every aspect of her daily life including moving, eating, and talking. And at each visit, I am saddened to not see the mother I once knew. The intelligent, hard-working woman who was always helping someone.

But that sadness does not persist. Partly, because I now view her changes as a normal part of life thanks to the wise words from the doctor. And partly, even though she interacts differently, she lets us know that she is still the same person that she has always been. For example, once a nurse, always a nurse.* She still watches all interactions between the residents and the staff with eagle eyes and gets attention when she sees someone who needs help. She doesn't talk much, but she uses non-verbal communication like a pro. When my sister and I were having a photo session with her, she rolled her eyes with the best of them as our antics got sillier and sillier. Much like she used to when we were younger. She still enjoys singing hymns and will sometimes sing along even though she may have only said a few words the rest of the day. And the list goes on.

However, the most important reason I don't remain upset is that my mother is still happy. Her life has changed drastically, but she still finds pleasure in her every day life. She enjoys a good piece of cornbread and crisp slice of bacon. She enjoys a friendly hello and a warm smile. She enjoys a soft sweater and a new hairdo. And she enjoys the feel of warm sunshine. Those are things that also make me happy.

Years ago when I first heard about dementia and how it robbed people of their mind and abilities, I thought it was the most horrible thing that could happen to someone. I could barely let the thought of it enter my mind before I had to banish it because I found it so upsetting. But my mother has shown me differently. She has taught me there is value to life even when it is not lived in a big way. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't grieve for the mother I once knew, but I am more accepting than I ever thought I could be. Thanks, Mom, for teaching me another important lesson in life.

*My mother retired as a nurse from the very hospital unit she is now living in. Some of the people she trained are now caring for her.

Note: This post is focused on mother, but I had similar experiences with my father. Another day, I will tell you about his last years.