Life has changed here.

When we built this house 5 years ago we put in a suite for my dad should he want to live with us. We really planned out a very nice area, 1000 sq. ft of room, living room, hall, bedroom, bath, kitchenette. Direct TV hookup. What more could anyone want. Well, Dad wasn't ready to move in so Gerry and I have had a very comfortable and happy private life. That is till Friday. A week ago Dad was taken to the hospital for a combination of ailments that together sounded like flu symptoms. After the doctors ran tests for 4 days they proclaimed him clear to go home. They could not find anything wrong other then the typical aches, pains and complaints of a man almost 90 years old. The doctors didn't want him to return to his home so an ambulet delivered dad to our door. Whether he wants to be here or not...he is here.

Now the world is turned upside down for all three of us. One thing Dad likes about being here is the food I am cooking for him. I'm hoping after a few weeks he will find other things he likes about the place. :)

So please keep us in your prayers that this all works out without any blood being spilled. Hopefull I will find some funny things to write about in the coming days. Wanna hear about the clogged toilet? ;)

Dee....a reluctant nurse. :)

And The Snows Came

I could not have picked a better time to be recuperating from surgery. The weather here in Ohio turned arctic last weekend. On Friday the icy rain came coating everything. The trees and bushes looked beautiful but the roads were terrifying. On Saturday the snows came...piling on top of all that ice we got hit with anywhere from 6 - 20 inches of snow. Depending on how the winds blew. Being our house sits upon a hill we had drifts 3 feet deep. Ever try walking through snow higher then your knees? My neighbor came over to visit and always called 911 half way there. She thought she might need the help of a helicopter to pull her out of the drift.

Most of the snow has melted the last few days, especially today while our temperature is in the mid 50s. It still is very pretty out there, in all the bright sunshine and now that the danger of driving in the snow and ice is over we can enjoy the snow in all its glory.

Living in the country has a few quirks. One, we don't have a lot of the modern conveniences....like fast internet connection. Another is we lose power often and for long periods at a time. The more populated areas get quicker attention then a few homes in a 5 mile radius. Also being that our streets are not busy the salt trucks or the snow removal trucks usually pass through on the rare occasion someone remembers where the farmers live. But look at this view!!! No small inconvenience could ever outshine the beauty and the quiet of country living. If you haven't tried it, do!

Keep Warm :)

On The Mend

It has been 11 days since my surgery. Yes, I am glad it's over and yes I am glad to be home but gee....no one told me about the specific uncomfortable moments I was going to have. Because of the type of surgery I had, while I was under anesthesia they put my body into positions that a normal body doesn't get into and especially for extended periods of time. I think 30 seconds would have been long enough, not over an hour. Imagine if you will...riding a horse for a month without ever getting off. The thought of not ever being able to get my legs back together crossed my mind many times. I have had muscle aches from over working them, but sheesh nothing like this. I also came home with a horrid sore throat from having the tube shoved down it. They need to make industrial strength throat spray that numbs everything totally for at least 10 hours between sprays. Someone invent something soon. :)

5 days after surgery I realized the meds I was on and the after effects were stopping up areas that ususally move normally. Orders from the doctor, no driving for three weeks, no sweeping for a couple of months and no straining, ever! When I went back to the doctor for my one week follow-up, she nodded in agrement with my discomfort and said, "Just give it another week and take Milk of Magnesia, I'll see you in a month." It's gonna be a long month......