Whatcha doing today?

[Mother]

SnapshotMiki,  you talk often about making snacks and food for your dogs.  Could you possibly post some how-to’s?  Maybe in the homesteading forum because it is animal related? Or in the Pinch a Penny one,  or where ever you feel most comfortable.  It would help a lot of people to learn to make instead of buy. 

Edited February 27, 2023 by Mother

[Littlesister]

Took GS back to doctor this morning. Temp keeps going up and down. He went to work last night, and they sent him home. Temp. went up to 104*. He saw another doctor in the same group I go to. The doctor I see, and GS also sees, the records were messed up. Doctor couldn't figure out what he had from the other doctor's notes. She checked him again for covid and took 3 or more vials of blood and a urine test. She wanted an X-ray but the X-ray tec either wasn't there today or something was wrong with equipment. Not sure which. So, he's out of work this week as well now. His work wants to put him on temporary disability. 

And if that isn't bad enough Doctor still has not called in my new prescriptions. This has been since last Wed. I give up. I am making an appointment with an endocrinologist. Don't know when I can get in but hoping fast. My TSH is off the charts. The high for TSH within limits is 5.50 mine went up to 15.49. He has done nothing for my diabetes. 

Otherwise, we came home, and I fixed breakfast and then went to pick up GS's RX. Came home and cleaned house. Now I am too tired to cook dinner, so Subway is on the menu tonight. GS is happy. He loves Subway.  The little brat has already given me his order. 

 

[Becca_Anne]

Littlesister hope your GS turns the corner soon and he starts to feel better. I think I'd be looking for a new Dr too that's really not excusable. 

 

Just can't seem to get much done other than work today but I did make a yummy curry chicken for dinner. Tried pearled couscous with it but that was so strange I much prefer regular couscous. It was like tapioca, not the texture I was going for 

 

 

[Littlesister]

Got things done this morning I didn't do yesterday.  Walking around yard as it is warmer today. Need to get started on flower beds. Going to get the lawn mower out and cut what grass I can and get the week killer down where I don't plant anything. Mainly the front yard. Then week the flower beds as nothing is in them now but weeds.  I have celery from a couple of stalks of celery I used and put in water. They are growing and ready to be planted but will have to plant in a bucket as we could still have frost. So will keep inside with a grow light. 

[Littlesister]

GS got a call from one of his co workers. Seems about 3 or 4 people have come down with what he has and they are now hurting for workers. Some are still working for now but 3 including GS are out of work for now. 

Fixed pepper steak for dinner and got kitchen cleaned up. I am done for the night. Might do a little reading in a bit. Hands are hurting and swollen again. GS did bring in more firewood today. He was feeling a bit better and no fever for most of the day. Fever did start coming back early evening though. 

[snapshotmiki]

Yesterday, picked up friend and dropped her cat at vet's. Paid for glasses at eye doctor. Went to Aldi and Walmart. Looked well stocked. Went to lunch at Golden corral. Stopped by Post office for friend and then picked up cat and brought her home.
Started second load of laundry.
That was about it.
Rescue captured another puppy, yesterday. 2 to go!

 

Already walked this morning.
Paid bills.
Next will walk dogs.
Going to make Blackberry Switchel--first time making this.
Change AC filter.
Have some misc. chores to do.
Prayer meeting tonight.

[Jeepers]

Miki = Mrs. Survival's own Energizer bunny.  

Wish I had half your energy. Keep going girl. 

[Jeepers]

Dr called for a tele-appointment thingy. Twenty minutes late.  And he kept cutting out a little. 

 

Labs weren't all bad. He forgot to mention cholesterol. I forgot too. Said sugar was just a little high but not diabetic yet. Keep taking Metformin. I think half of the country is on that stuff. My  B-12, or was it D-12 is very low. Anyway he is ordering a script for it. I'll see then. I tOnly bad thing was I'm in chronic stage 3 kidney failure. Crimony.  I THINK it sounds worse than it is but I need to check with Dr. Google about that. All in all it wasn't horrible. Nothing he couldn't have told me over the phone (which he just did) a week ago. Oh wait, we made an appointment and he called me so I guess he can now bill the insurance for an "appointment."

 

Now I have to go three towns away (half an hour drive) to have my blood pressure read. My doctors office is two blocks away. Just to have my blood pressure read. Sigh. 

 

 

Just went to the blood pressure reading. 144/99.  That is pretty good for me. I'm usually in 160's.  He did say he wanted to take it down slowly because it seems like I'm a fainter. 

 

 

[Littlesister]

Jeepers My DH was in stage 4 kidney failure for years and never had an issue.  Just had to watch what meds he took as to rather they could affect the kidneys or not. Such as certain fluid pills. Some protect the kidneys while others don't. Blood pressure meds are the same way. Some protect and some don't.

 

Worked on garage today. Filling up another box of stuff for Good Will. Slowly getting stuff down sized and out of here. I will never use a lot of the things I have now. So no need of keeping it unless the kids want it. I always ask them first. DD has already taken some of the things I wanted to get rid of. Mostly knic knacks. I got tired of having to move that stuff to dust and clean off shelves. I kept some of those things but not much of it. 

 

Other than that, not much else going on right now. GS goes back to work tomorrow night. He is still running a fever off and on but feeling better. 

 

 

[Annarchy]

Yesterday…

 

Wow!

 

He bought some dried coconut, pineapple & banana chips, big bags.  I went to the hwd store and got 12 1/2 gallon Ball jars. Heard the sirens, in a desert area, ignored it & got my jars. Came home, cops all over our neighborhood. Caught one trying to hide next to DH’s truck, I hear them yelling at the SO’s house next door, trying to get into their house.  An illegal smuggler dumped them behind the other neighbors house and they ran towards our house.  They got the 6 but were still looking for the driver, tow truck took the vehicle. 
Drama….

[Mt_Rider]

4 hours ago, Littlesister said:

My DH was in stage 4 kidney failure for years and never had an issue.

8 hours ago, Jeepers said:

Only bad thing was I'm in chronic stage 3 kidney failure. Crimony.  I THINK it sounds worse than it is but I need to check with Dr. Google about that.

 

[Mt_Rider]

The posting box is fighting with me tonite.  Hmph! 

 

Referring to the quote [above] from Jeepers.....ACK!  It SOUNDS bad.   So I read it to my DH.  Who admits that he's been in Stage 3 for a while.    AND WHY didn't I know this???   

 

So for Jeepers' sake and mine, I appreciated your comment, LittleSister, on Stage 4.  I read that to DH and he's saying, yep!  He knows that.  The diabetes [and cholesterol ?? ]  is pushing his kidney stuff....and due to getting tossed by a car hitting him as a little boy, he has one kidney that doesn't do much already.  He is taking a new med for diabetes/kidney ???  And he's tolerating this one.  Hmmph!  I think I need to start going with him to HIS doc appts! 

 

So y'all....take care of yourselves.    And Mr. Miki too!    Only way to do that is get a doc and their staff that you get along with!!!!!!  Easier said than done.  NEVER DID LIKE the idea of corporations running medical care.....but I'm repeating myself.   

I'm satisfied with mine right now.  So...I opened the neurology question.  Wasn't going to do that UNTIL  I had TRUST in my primary.  Don't meet neuro doc til April.  But I'm done with MRIs and blood and tests she'll need ......   { I think }  

 

Annarchy!  Whoaaa!  I'd call that DRAMA!  Was your dh home?  'Course your house would not be a wise place for anyone not welcome to try to enter.....  I'm taking precautions now ....have always tried to but lots of the ladies in our new Bible study are ready, in case of trouble.  Glad all was well.

 

Praying for all who are sick...LilSis' Grson too.  Wonder what's being spread around that workplace?

 

Euphrasyne....I hope you're getting back to 'your normal'.....

 

MtRider 

Edited March 2, 2023 by Mt_Rider

[Jeepers]

Dang Annarchy, not good! Pretty scary actually. I'll bet if they got a look at your 'furry home security system' they would have high tailed it out of there fast. Stay safe friend. 

 

 

Oh, and congrats on your nice haul!  

 

Edited March 2, 2023 by Jeepers
Added Info

[Mt_Rider]

So....what a time we're having.  It's all low-concern type stuff but sheeeesh!

 

Wellllll....  our land line phone dropped service around 1am this morning.  My "life alert" type device depends on that to communicate - call help for me.  So at 1AM we hear a voice telling us that the device can't find the phone line.  After DH returned from part time work this afternoon  [ YAY, now only 1 Home Health Aid client], we drove the truck up to the ridge above us and called for repair on our cell phone.  ZERO cell service on our property.  They estimate 6 days to get a repair person out here. 

 

After explaining about the 'life alert' system, the guy told us to call back tomorrow to see if an earlier repair might be possible.  We do plan to keep calling....  from up on the ridge.

 

Tomorrow DH and I will go in to WP to have chocolate Frosties at Wendys.  It is the one year anniversary of my dad "graduating" to heaven.  Due to dementia for 5 yrs, it was a blessing.     We'd "lost" him long before that.  The Frosty is what I decided to do to honor the day....since we and my folks shared many times together - with chocolate Frosties.  Remember the good times.   

 

While in cell service, we also need to contact our auto repair guy.  He should be done with our car soon, so I can have the truck here when DH goes to work......since we don't have a phone....   

 

AND call B/J property managers - make sure it doesn't have anything to do with the confusion of the 2nd phone line that was supposed to be put in last Aug.  .....    I can just see someone shifting our service over to the new line....which is still laying on the ground....and not connected at house or box on the road. 

 

I did text Bro...while up on the ridge....to tell Mom I can't call till we're back in phone service.   

 

Sorry...I'm feeling a bit like that saying...."pecked to death by ducks".     Oh....and we found one of our 4 female ducks dead this morning.  We use the eggs!  Was it an ermine/weasel that made the hole?  No, DH only had time this A.M. to get her out of the bucket and their pen.  Our Colorado Stellar Jays or Red Tail Hawks were probably on her today.    The 3 drakes?  Yes....they drowned her in JUST a water bucket, cuz of competition - wouldn't get off!    It's "sort of spring" despite snow... and our male ratio is too high.   I spent nearly an hour tonite trying to separate the 3 drakes into a separate cage while 3 remaining female ducks and our goose and gander had conniptions!   Dumb as they are, ducks are hard to catch even in a small area.   So soon, 2 of the drakes will be dinner.  We're left with 1 drake and 3 females.  1 gander and 1 goose - who lays wonderful big eggs.  But a shorter season than our Campbell ducks. 

 

So...that's been my day.  TRYING to reset my sleep time.  Got it all messed up.  1am notification from the "life alert" device messed me up again last nite.  And now....signing off at  ...ACK!  11pm.  .....mebbe if I hurry.....     yeah, like THAT calms me down for sleep.   

 

MtRider  

 

Edited March 2, 2023 by Mt_Rider
confusing typo

[Becca_Anne]

Oh my Mt Rider who knew ducks were so dramatic! So sorry about her demise. I think duck dinner sounds like a good solution.

Jeepers it's almost certainly B-12 as D would be D2 or D3  As for the kidney stuff if you follow Dr's advice and ensure your Blood Pressure and Blood Sugars stay good that is the best protection you can give your kidneys to protect the remaining kidney functioning you have. The kidneys are really affected by High blood pressure and sugar damages them too. Also it is hard on them to process salt so I'm sure they told you to watch that too. It might be a good idea to ask for a referral to see a nephrologist (kidney specialist) they can give you very specific instructions to keep your kidneys as good as possible for as long as possible. Some OTC meds are also really hard on the kidneys like ibuprofen so be sure to run any OTC meds by the Dr's office too before taking.  

 

Annarchy wow that's concerning. I hope they found everyone.

Littlesister glad your GS is improving! Decluttering is always a good feeling. I need to do another round at my house

Miki what is blackberry switchel? Sounds yummy. That reminds me I have some mulberrries I froze last summer I need to use up maybe I'll look for a recipe today to make a treat with them.

 

Not much going on at my house just lots of work. Might be an internal candidate to take over the extra work I've had to take on lately which would be a relief as my own job is very overwhelming right now. I just keep telling myself what do I have to do today and do that.

[Jeepers]

Thanks Becca_Anne. Dr. office just called and he is upping my dose of BP med (Amlodipine) from 5mg to 10mg. I have lost some weight thanks to not eating as much due to taste bud issues and am exercising more due to working at packing up the disastrous house. I cook with a little bit of salt and don't add any at the table. I use Lite Salt when I do use it. Although fast food can be my downfall. I like sweets but I don't crave them. In other words, I don't have a sweet tooth. I asked about my cholesterol and they said it was elevated just a tad over the last test two years ago. I'm on med for that now so next lab work in April should look better.

 

He told me to avoid ibuprofen. I only take about 4 a month as it is. Now I'll think twice and only take them if I really need one. Also I stopped taking all OTC herbs, vitamins, minerals and meds. They ARE meds and can be dangerous combined with other meds or if you have underlying issues. Both the doctor and the blood pressure nurse yesterday, told me to stop taking OTC meds. I about had a heart attack over too much potassium.    So much of that stuff passes through the kidneys and liver. My liver is fine but kidneys...not so much. At 70 yrs. I'm just trying to protect what I have left.  I do need to drink more water though.  It seems like I'm always dehydrated. 

 

I think I should take CoQ10 since I'm on a statin now? Baby aspirin is no longer recommended. 

 

You are right about the B-12, He already prescribed D3 Ultra strength 5,000 which I'm taking.

 

I hate taking all of the prescribed medicine with all of their warnings but I guess it beats the alternatives. My D-Cousin died from kidney failure after being on dialysis for 10 years. It wasn't pleasant for her. It does feel good to be back on some sort of a regimen though. Being pro active I guess. I think some of my issues like high blood pressure and high cholesterol are heredity. 

 

I LOVE HAVING OUR OWN RESIDENT NURSE IN THE HOUSE! THANK YOU BECCA_ANNE 

[Littlesister]

Jeepers, you do have to watch your potassium levels. Way to low and it can stop your heart. That is what happened to DH. His defibulator kicked in and saved him. But the doctors put him on too much potassium both by pills and IV. Levels went way up and put him in renal failure. So make sure doctors keep an eye on that.  Coming off OTC's with precription meds is a good idea. And the only reason they tell you baby Asprin is not good is they are promoting the blood thinners. I still take a baby asprin daily. Not going to do the blood thinners that are prescribed. I saw what that did to DH. Not worth the risk. Learned that the hard way. But takin the CoQ10 is a good idea. 

Right now I take Synthroid, a chol. med, CoQ10, baby Asprin and Trulicity for diabetics and a Blood pressure med. Doctor has me taking D3, zinc and vit. C also. I had started taken that due to corvid as it will help keep you from getting it. But not a guarantee. Checked with doctor and he agrees to stay on those. Other than that I don't take any other OTC meds. 

 

Doctor finally called in my new Synthroid med. as it was increased. Just got a call to pick up the trulicity that was decreased. Don't know why I am still taken it as it does not work for me and I told him so. Just can't figure out why decreasing it will make it work for me. But that is what he did. 

 

Went to Harris Teeter this morning and only the Synthroid was ready. They can't seem to wait and call you when all your meds are ready for pick up. Not going back today.  But while there, I picked up some fresh fruit, tomatoes, potatoes, etc. I wanted a cucumber but they didn't have any. Maybe I will run up to Food Lion to get one. I want to make a salad. I have plenty of lettuce as I am growing that in my aerogarden. It just keeps on giving. And it is only 2 plants. The celery I started off table scrap from end of the stalk is doing good. I have it under the grow light. 

Going to take it easy rest of day and then tomorrow will start back working in garage. 

[Annarchy]

Storm hit hard, last night.  DH went out to check the water in the driveway, coming back into the yard, neon glowing stuff on the porch?  Flashlight revealed it was earthworms, he had stepped on!

 

When I go up at 4am, he made me go out to see.  I took a couple pictures, not the best night pics, but I didn’t want to kill more, just for a pic.

 

 

That’s one above I stepped on. Of course in the dark you can’t see them traveling along. 
 

 

 

Snow all over the state, Superstition Mtns are covered.  20 year average, normal. 
 

 

 

[Annarchy]

Snow…

 

[snapshotmiki]

I know  about  plankton being  fluorescent, but not earthworms. 

[Becca_Anne]

Wow Annarchy fluorescent earthworms that's a new one to me too! Who knew?!

Jeepers happy to help with whatever I can, and glad your Dr seems like he is now on top of things for you. It's always a balance and with diet especially tricky to know all the effects of the foods we eat. In general I try to eat and advise to eat as whole a food diet as possible with less processed foods since that tends to have too much added sugar and salt. Since my DH has BP and had acute kidney failure from sepsis and then a kidney stone that he's recovered mostly from I'm really aware of that now. I really think our modern diet is the root of a lot of disease. Hard to make everything from scratch though. 

 

My dog is getting spayed tomorrow so I suspect I'll be on duty keeping her from jumping off of things the next couple of days. Hope you all have a great weekend!

[Jeepers]

Hope Miss Ruby heals quickly.  

Bless her fuzzy little butt.  

[Mt_Rider]

I fixed our telephone.     I crawled underneath furniture to get to the little box screwed into the baseboard.  It's right by the intake to the furnace so DUST accumulates.  ...... In this real log cabin - LOTS OF DUST!  Well, the little connection box was not screwed tightly so after dusting around that area, I screwed the box tight again.  Up above my head I heard my "life alert" type box making noises.  I came up to find a green light, instead of the red.  I picked up the phone and yep, dial tone!    Realllllly hard to figure tho.  Cuz the phone shut off at 1:30 AM...when we were both asleep TRYING to get to sleep.  So WHY did it quit working when no one was around to bump it or anything.  Did just one more mote of dust appear and foul it?    I. Have. No. Idea.     But phone and 'life alert' works now.  I didn't have to call all those people on cell while in town today.  

 

DH and I were low energy today but deposited into bank, picked up a few groceries [DH] while dog and I roamed the parking lot and grass.  Then we got our malts to commemorate my dad's graduation to Heaven a year ago.    

 

=-=-=-Meanwhile=-=-=

 

 

.... Mom, Bro and Niece went out to eat to commemorate same.  They were having a good time.  Niece had news about a new, good job finally.     Bro offered Mom a bite of his steak.....................    She choked!  

 

I kid you not!  Can't this family have a normal meal without something dangerous or bizarre or freaky happening?  She's ok but told me that she tried to cough it up; Bro tried the [not effective for steak ] pound on back while she's coughing.  She was getting hazy by the time a man from the group at a nearby table took over.  Of COURSE he did the Heimlich.  Took 3 tries before the meat came up.  Mom gave him a big hug after she caught up on breathing.  The whole table was cheering for her.  The wife had noticed and told her dh to get over and help that women.  He was trained.  EVERYONE SHOULD BE TRAINED.   I had "HEIMLICH!!" out of my mouth as soon as my mom got to that part of her story tonite on phone.   Liquid might go down but steak.....needs to come UP!     

 

I nearly started hyperventilating while she told the story.  Yes....she obviously survived but sheeeeeesh!   We're commemorating my dad's passing one year ago today!  There would be more-than-normal FREAK OUT if she'd expired today on a danged piece of steak.      Wow......just WOW!  

 

I don't even want to think about this.  Likely Bro's shook about it too.  Nothing's worse than having an emergency where you don't know enough to handle it.  Bro is getting a HUGE medical education since last July.  Mom just says:   Broken ribs in Aug......Cracked hip/bashed eye rim in Feb....and now this.....things happen in 3's so she's done with emergencies.    She's taking this way better than Bro or me!        

 

 { I think she's paying us back for whatever we scared her with in our childhoods!!!  }    

 

 

 

EVERY PREPPER.....EVERY EVERYONE.... needs to keep updated on First Aid and the more advanced stuff like CPR, Heimlich, etc. 

 

 

 

MtRider........  God, bless that man and his wife and their whole table!!!     

[Mt_Rider]

    I FIXED the phone again today.  This time it made sense.  Replaced the cords with new ones....we have plenty unused ones from various electronics.  One of the old cord ends was missing the "tongue" part.  THAT'S what kept coming in/out and driving me crazy.    We got a call from our mechanic just before the phone went out again.   Got another call a minute after we got the new cord installed.  DD2 acknowledging our significant day yesterday and was shocked to hear we nearly lost Grma.  And DD2 thot she was having a busy and crazy life.  ...

 

So we're back to 2 vehicles and good phone/ 'life alert' system now.   

 

MtRider  ...one by one we're bopping those "moles".... 

Edited March 3, 2023 by Mt_Rider

[Littlesister]

Mt. Rider glad you got your phone line fixed. You needed that line badly.  Very glad there was someone there to help with your mom at that restaurant.  And glad she is now doing better.

 

Becca Anne  May your pup heal fast and behave herself. No jumping. 

 

Jeepers I hope things are getting  a bit better for you. Construction and moving is no fun. Try to take it easy when you can.

 

Glow worms and snow. Wow! I didn't know earth worms would glow in the dark. Now I will have to go out after dark to see if one will glow for me.

 

Yesterday I went to neighbor's house to stay with her father in law so she could run pick a friend's child up from school. Home health was late and she is not happy with it. Not dependable.  Came home and GS was laying on floor in den with his mother on phone.  He was suppose to go back to work last night and he was having a hard time breathing. Chest was hurting also. I took him to emergency room. He has Mono and bronchitis. Not a good combination. He was pulled off the antibiotics and put on an inhaler and prednisone. He is off work tonight and tomorrow night and goes back on Sunday night. So should be better by then. He has missed 3 weeks of work because the family doctor checked him for mono and said he didn't have it. Didn't bother to check him for bronchitis. Yes he had it. And the ER checked those labs through Labcore where the labs were done. He is going to the same doctor I go to. So guess we both need to find a new doctor. There has to be some good ones out there somewhere. Just have to find one. He is feeling a bit better today and now starting to cough up the mess in chest. Prednisone is a lifesaver. This child has been sick for 5 weeks with this mess and tried to work the first 2 weeks with it till he couldn't work anymore. Company still has about 4 people out of work. He may have picked mono up at work as one of the workers he thinks may have had it and never took off work. So it seems to be going around work. 

 

I have been going through things today but didn't work in garage. It's been very cold and rainy today. I'm ready for spring. It's not getting here fast enough.