Patient Update

Well, the doctor recommended surgery, and also discussed another option to put a cast on and let it heal, as it is not too terribly displaced, and then try some physical therapy beginning in a couple of weeks, just gentle stuff to help with her range of motion. Mom of course chose the non-surgery option. I don't blame her really. At 78, who wants to have surgery? Plus you can't smoke in those damn hospitals any more! When I was filling out the paperwork for Mom it shocked me to write in her health history that she has been smoking for about 70 years. What the hell? Anyway, the Doc said he could get her better range of motion if she had surgery, but mom isn't worried about it. Then the doctor said that if she didn't like the way it heals they could look at at elbow replacement, and that the recuperation from elbow replacement would be easier than recuperating after the surgery from this break. Wow.   Clearly he does not know my mother. Mom got a new cast on today that will hopefully be more comfortable and we go back in a week.  And we both really like that doctor, so that is a good thing.

The other patients (feline) . . .

Finn is on antibiotics for an abscess.

Midge is on ointment for a wonky eye. 

They are avoiding me like the plague.

Kay the Nurse

Summer Snaps and Independence Day Troubles

Illinois Canyon trail at Starved Rock

First garden green pepper. I whipped up a gourmet dish for supper with it, Weenies and Beans and Cornbread ala Kay.

I just want to say that this post was titled "Summer Snaps" BEFORE the calamitous event of July 4th.  I had started this post last week and since it contained nothing of substance I saved it as a draft figuring I'd fluff it up later. Perhaps I am a little psychic? I dunno. More likely . . .  psycho.

Yep, there is mom, with her supracondylar humerus fracture. She was not too keen on getting her picture taken but she looks just fine! She has a temporary cast all the way from her upper arm to her fingers. She took a tumble on the patio. Found her there with glass all around from a broken coffee cup (and some cut fingers), ciggies all around, lighter on the ground, a stick of gum, she was so close to her rocking chair, so close! She swears to me that she wasn't trying to light a cigarette while walking, like she did last time she fell! Because we have RULES against that now.  She went down hard on her right arm. She sits on patio all the time, multiple times a day, she enjoys the outdoors and to have her ciggies. She was a little shook up, doesn't know what happened. A real shame this happened to her, we are all very sad about it. She was reluctant to go to the ER but I talked her into it. I think at first the ER personnel didn't think anything was broken because Mom was doing so well, but the dang x-ray showed otherwise. The doc told her she is tough, and she is. She is doing very well. We left the ER with instructions to follow up with the ortho doc today. Of course on the way home we talked about how nice it is that you don't have to leave town anymore to see a specialist like you did years ago. But of course the ER was full of people who needed orthopedic referrals today so we can't get into the Morris office, we have to go to Joliet tomorrow. LOL  Mom wasn't even going to get a prescription for pain pills, she told the doc she'd take some ibuprofen, but I said oh yes, we need an Rx  . . . I may need to pop a pill! I was  just joking of course, and Mom is glad to have them now. The pain pills are working great and she has slept very well, considering.  She skipped supper last night,  and lunch today, but she had a nice supper, so I think things are going quite well really.

At least it was her right arm, and she is a lefty, so, as we are all getting tired of saying . . .it could have been worse!

More tomorrow after doc.

Kay :)

Happy Father's Day!

Bernie had just given John a $5 tip for a meal John had cooked for us all. On the way home Bernie said, "I slipped him a $5. I think he can use it after that spread." Priceless. 

Dad and Aunt Jean and Aunt Shirley and Uncle Jim might be in deep discussion at this very moment!

Oh my mom will kill me for this one, lol, but Dad looks so cute in his beer/shamrock t-shirt.  I used to have such fun finding "Bernie t-shirts" for Dad to wear to the bar! I still think "Oh, perfect shirt for Dad!" sometimes.

I'm going to be very Bernie today and have a beer and watch the cars go by for a while. Three cheers (and maybe beers) for good dads everywhere.  I am surely a lucky girl to have had such a great dad and great uncles!

Kay :)

I'm 54 and my hair is too red!

Just let me say, happy birthday to me! And Caribbean Caramel, Light Reddish Brown, my ass! I have a lot to learn about covering up my gray. It is just my 3rd try, I'll find the right color one of these days. I mean when people greet you by saying "oh my!" instead of "hello" .  . well, that is hardly ever a good thing.

Faithful readers may remember my lucky contest wins, Scotties tissues, potato chips, laundry detergent, and I don't think I mentioned the time I won a turkey in a raffle. I was 12 and I tried to sell it to the folks for Thanksgiving dinner, my logic being that I'd give them a deal, they wouldn't have to buy one. They just laughed. And ate my turkey. Well I have won something else . . . cottage cheese! Luck of the Irish people, luck of the Irish! I got it I guess. I haven't received cottage cheese or coupons yet, but the suspense is killing me! A months worth of cottage cheese, wow!

Had fun today at an estate sale, found a nice box of super old puzzles. John bought a nice La-Z-Boy armchair and an ottoman for his basement.  Super comfy if you want to chill in the cool basement and watch some flicks.

I used to like to go out on my birthday. Now I'm just fine with staying out of the heat and watching an old movie about  a Yeti!  And how is it possible I had never seen Lilies of the Field before? Great movie.

45 years ago today John was in cousin Denny and Holly's wedding as ring bearer!

Kathleen :)

Hera doing yoga.

When the heat index is 100, do a puzzle!

Do 2 puzzles! 

John got his own puzzle, a sliding tile puzzle of the United States. Bernie so would have bought that puzzle too! Cracks me up. And does anybody know what that green duck thing is? It's quite puzzling . . .

Old puzzles with no picture to work from are super cool . . . and hard!

Rummage Sale Season

I'd have a lot more money in the bank (at least $1.50) if I didn't feel the need to buy things to amuse the kitties!

Happy Memorial Day

Where did May go? Quite possibly the loveliest month of all.

I had a temp gig for a couple of weeks, so back to work for Kay. When you work in criminal law for many many many moons, a general practice is filled with all sorts of strange things, degrees and minutes and seconds and PIN numbers and legal descriptions and contracts oh my. It sounds strange to admit, but I miss my felons.  Or I guess I really just miss the way things used to be, but que sera sera, right people?

Took the fam over to John's for Mother's Day, had a lovely brunch. We of course went by the Seneca cemetery to check out the decor I put on earlier in the month, but it was gone!  It was nowhere to be found.  I really pegged that sucker in, so I can't imagine what happened to it. Well yes, I can imagine grrrrr. Anyway, take II . . .

I'll check it out again next time I'm over that way. And I'll take some extra flowers with me too, just in case of more tomfoolery. Anway, I took the fam with me, though I'm the only one who would tackle the hill lol, and then we had a yummy late breakfast at the Seneca Diner. Joe and Dad used to go eat there after visiting the cemetery. But bummer, they were out of biscuits so mom did not get her biscuits and gravy fix, but she seemed very pleased with her bacon omelette. A nice little ride and outing for the fam. They are very contented at home but I think it is good for the homebodies to get out once in a while. And I am pretty sure I am genetically predisposed to have a big appetite . . . Mom can eat like a horse! Mums the word on that one folks, and please,  no smart ass comments . . . thank you.

Garden is coming along. I put in this cherry tomato plant way early, had to cover it up a few times for fear of frost, but it's really going to town . . . Tomato Town hopefully!

So far I've harvested cat nip, radishes and green onions.

I got a bumper crop of cat, always does well here, probably due to all the organic fertilizer.

Planted Dad's favorite geraniums on the patio, though he would be a trifle miffed that they aren't all red! LOL  I got a red and a pink and a white.

I have a graduation party today with picnic food over at Mar's, looking forward to it. And . . . there will be beer! Woo hoo!

That's all.

Kathleen

May Days

Time sure flies when you are on unemployment! Is it really May already? On one hand, the practical unemployed, dang! On the other hand, the one that doesn't give a chit . . .  May, woo hoo! Let's have fun outside!
Anyway . . .

Mom and I took a drive to Seneca to the cemetery today. It was a glorious day, a perfect day for a ride. The cemetery looks a little rough, but I'm sure they'll get it slicked up. I remembered everything, except a rake would have come in very handy.

Dad always made sure to decorate for Mother's Day.  Weird, I didn't realize until today how young Grandma Mallaney was when she passed away only 60 years old. Five years before I was born. We did mom's side of the family out at Evergreen last week.

I'm enjoying this Spring sunshine. I opened John's front door for his cats to enjoy the morning sunshine and now they think I'm a rock star! I wonder if there are any openings anywhere for a rock star . . . hmmmm.

Had another Mallaney Cousin's lunch yesterday. Smaller crowd this time, but still terrific. Lots of laughs and stories and good company, beer and wine, a lovely afternoon.

I think John  needs to invest in a sturdier cat tree  . . .

John put that cat tree together himself!

I planted some onions and radishes. Everything is looking good except for one little thing . . .

Midge keeps digging up my veggies prematurely!  It's a wonder any of the onions took, they've been replanted so many times. And my beautiful rows of radishes. Sigh.

I've been feeling so creative lately . . . see if you can get the tune right ---

Dewdrops on lilacs,
whiskers on kittens,
wee downy goslings and
rummage sale listings,
old Springbok puzzles tied up with string,
these are a few of my favorite things . . .

Thank you thank you. Please stop. I will take my leave now.

Kay :)