Thursday, November 9, 2017

Good Morning!

Happy Thursday morning to you all. It's a cold, rainy day outside today.  A perfect day for snuggling in with my knitting, but I do have a few errands to run so I have to brave the elements.  We ended up getting about 7 inches of snow here at our house over the weekend. It's still on the ground, but probably not for long since it's supposed to rain for several days and be in the upper 30's.  That's okay with me as it should wash away most of the white stuff and make it less slippery when walking.

I don't have a lot of knitting to show you because it's been all knit, knit, knit on a mystery project.  Here is a sneak peak though and all you'll see for awhile.
As you can tell, it's lots and lots of stockinette stitch.  Back and forth. Back and forth.

Miss Piper joined her Mama in contracting Influenza a, but was put on Tamiflu within hours and is doing much better.  I was informed on Friday that her little hands were cold and she needed new mittens.  She wanted purple, so I made purple with darker purple stripes and they were finished that day. I had to wait for the post office to open on Monday to mail them.  She got them yesterday and sent me a picture.
They fit perfectly and she looks like she's feeling much, much better.  And look!  She lost her first tooth last week too.  Poor Mandy is still not feeling very well and they're both still coughing and sneezing, but Piper looks lots better than she did over the weekend.
Larry and Nita had a run in with a snowplow with their new car on Sunday.  Ouch. The blade caught the door and just ripped it back.  Oops!  A hazard of driving in snow and ice.  They are both fine but obviously the car has issues.  Be careful out there.

I'm still working on Dennis' socks when I'm not at home and need a small carry along project.  I'm at the heel turn now for the second sock, so we're on the home stretch!  A good thing too.  I just placed an order at Knit Picks last night.  I have more sock yarn on the way!
Chloe loves these dark and gray days.  We snuggle up in the living room and watch knitting/crochet podcasts, her on her bed and me in my chair.  I do love winter for the coziness and contentment I feel in being home.  I am blessed.
Ready for the continuing saga of me?  If not, that's okay.  I'll see you back here soon and you can skip the rest.  As you know I had my mammogram last Friday.  They called me on Tuesday afternoon and made me go back yesterday for a repeat mammogram and an ultrasound. The new 3-D machines are so sensitive they pick up everything...which is a good thing, but for me, ended up with more pain.  Of course the two spots they found were on my pacemaker side.  After an hour of  torture, seriously, it was PAINFUL, I was told it's probably nothing and to come back in 6 months for another mammogram.  Oh bother!

And on top of that, I have an endoscopy scheduled for Monday morning.  When Dennis' had his a few weeks ago, we all, (the G.I. doctors office), realized that I had never been rescheduled to have a follow-up endoscopy done after the one I had 9 years ago.  It said I had Barrett's syndrome which is a pre-cancerous condition and you're supposed to have follow-up endoscopies every 2 years.  Oh well, it's only been 9 years! :-)  I told them that if I HAVE to have one, they needed to schedule me before the end of the year because we've met our out of pocket again this year.  I'm truly hoping next year will be better...but that's what I said the year before. 

The only time we have ever met our out of pocket AND deductibles was when I had our babies.  Now, in the past three years we've met it every year, and every year it goes up.  It's a ridiculously high out of pocket we pay now, along with high premiums.  I tell you, moving to Japan after retirement and becoming Alex's dependents like he wants us to, is sounding better and better.  We would have medical provided for us as his dependents.  Just kidding, we aren't planning to move there, but something has to be done, I just don't know what.  At this rate, retirement for Dennis isn't an option.

And on that bright and happy note, I'm going to close.  I want to get my errands done early because FedEx or UPS is supposed to be delivering a package from Amazon today and I don't want it left in the rain.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  Sorry for the rambling.  Life is life and I share it all with you.  The good and the bad.  That's what friends do, right?  I know that I am truly blessed and privileged to lead the life that I do.  Some of those blessings are each and every one of you who come to visit me here in my little corner of the world.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

Blessings always my friend,
Betsy




20 comments:

  1. Be safe today my friend. I may go out today to post office and pay a bill. Cool here. Sweater/sweatshirt season for sure! Sorry that Piper got sick too. Sometimes children spring back quicker or she got meds sooner. I want to knit next year after the sewing quilt gets made. Our insurance went up a bit but affordable. We have used HSA for 2 years and we've saved a lot of money, according to Phil. Have a blessed day!

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  2. I'm glad Piper had a lighter version of that flu! She looks very happy with her new purple mittens.. she's a doll. As for hearing your medical things.. you're right.. friendship means you share the good things and the things that concern you. That's what friendship is. My grandsons would have loved your snow! But I'm glad it will be short lived for your sake. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  3. Dear Sweet Betsy. You can always vent to your bloggy pals. We take the good and the bad. When one is down another is up, and so goes it. im sorry you had to endure all the breast pain! Ugh.
    Piper is adorable. LOVE her mittens.

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  4. those mitts look perfect for Piper. We too are getting snow tonight; hoping it doesn't stick but who knows. Hope your health improves.

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  5. Your sneak peak is very interesting....you've got my attention!

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  6. Seeing Piper's appreciation for the mittens must warm your heart. I'm glad she's feeling better and hope that Mandy feels better soon.

    Glad to hear your repeat mammogram was clear and hope your endoscopy goes well.

    Happy knitting!

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  7. Sending good wishes for your endoscopy. They are NOT fun. Neither are the mammograms and they ALWAYS find something on mine that turns out with further testing, to be nothing. ACK! And, I'm right there with you on insurance/medical expenses. We are on COBRA until Dec. and then our out of pocket expenses will skyrocket and both of us have pre-exisiting conditions ...mine being EXPENSIVE!

    But ..........I'm standing upright and so are you ---- so I guess we'll just make the best of it and pray for better medical programs soon.

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  8. I've been doing a lot of crocheting when I really should be getting out and enjoying the weather here as it slowly begins to cool down. Sometimes just staying cozy at home is the right soul medicine. Glad to hear Piper is okay. There were lots of coughing kids at the hospital when I volunteered yesterday. The changing weather brings many viruses. I pray that next year, you will not have any reason to go to the doctor. That everything will be fine and you will feel your best. Just imagine all those folks who don't have insurance, who don't even have the money to pay for health care. It truly is a shame that so many must suffer because of the broken healthcare system.

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  9. Glad to hear Piper is on the mend and what cute mittens you made for her. I can't wait to see the 'mystery knit' an dDennis's socks are looking good! Show us your Knitpicks yarn when you get it! You are definitely having some cozy weather; be safe out there. What is it about new cars? They are like a magnet for getting hit! It had happened with every new car I have ever had and within the first several months and then nothing else for the life of the car! So glad they are okay though....that's the main thing. So glad your tests went well and all is good. I hope it stays that way. Medical and big pharma are making a killing on all of u s...literally. My doctor told me to take a medicine for Osteoporosis but I declines....can cause blood clots and heart problems...plus it's $58 a month. I'll take my chances on a fracture! Have a great weekend and stay safe, warm and cozy!

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  10. Oh Betsy I'm so glad no one was injured in the car vs snow plow. I detest mammograms but I do appreciate that exist.
    Have a great weekend.

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  11. I appreciate our loving friendship, Betsy, and am glad we met! Your faith in the Lord and your generosity and industry inspire me. If I lived nearer to you I would no doubt make a nuisance of myself to you :) The mittens and your little miss are fab, and your mystery knit is keeping me guessing. I want to be knitting socks, too, and love seeing the ones you make. I continue to pray for the Lord's blessing and mercy on this awesome world he has created for us to steward, for all to know and enjoy His sacrificial love for each of us, for you and your family and for others who are dear to me, and for those in authority who can make positive changes in legislation that will benefit everyone. I am trying to make myself more of a nuisance to the latter to implore them to do a better job legislating! May the joy of the Lord continue to be our strength. xx

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  12. Hi Betsy, I am so sorry for all your pain connected to your mammogram. Piper's mittens are so nice and she looks so happy with them. Glad she got over the flu quickly. Sometimes kids bounce back faster than us older folks. I hope her Mom is doing well soon. I hope the rest of the month of November goes well for you! Nancy

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  13. The same thing happened to me with my mammogram- it was the most painful thing, and I don’t have a pace maker, but they thought they saw something, I went for a 3D one (thank God it’s totally covered by my insurance) , and then they said it was nothing, but I have to come back in 6 months.
    I will pray for you, these health things are something, but, as you do, I feel blessed.

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  14. Oh, dear friend! I have surely been praying for you and am SO sorry for all you are going through. Bless your dear heart. May God bless you and allow all to be well with your test results. So thankful little Miss Piper is feeling better. That is so precious how she ordered her mittens and how sweet that you so kindly fulfilled her request. You are such a dear, sweet person, my friend, and I trust God to carry you through these trying times. Sending much love and many hugs to you today!

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  15. Oh I'm so sorry for the mammo torture, and having to do it twice- Egads! My imagine place does not do the 3d yet and I wish they would. I still think in the far reaches of my mind that these xrays are not good for our bodies, and that's because I never used to hear of so many people having cancer, and now it's almost a weekly thing to know this one or that one who suddenly has it. Have a blessed week and I hope the weather clears up soon so that you can walk outside again.

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  16. Aw, Betsy, I'm sorry to hear about what you've been through lately. I haven't had a mammogram yet, but it's coming, probably another year or two. I hear you on the insurance stuff, what a nightmare. I hope it all works out. I'm sorry to hear about Mandy and Piper having the flu but glad to know they're doing better now. I really can't believe Piper has lost a tooth! Where does the time go? It seems like yesterday she was a baby. What a big girl. I hope you're having a good week so far, take care.

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  17. Hi Betsy thank you for your lovely comment on my blog post. I’ve been very busy band although read this when it came in I didnt have time to comment...
    Praying all goes well in your endoscopy which you’ve prob had by now, sorry for pain with mammogram.. truly I think it’s possibly not necessary when there are other scans they can do, my mum never had them in her latter years because they caused her extreme pain ( she had rheumatoid and couldn’t raise her arms high enough for mammogram.. and Dr just used to use ultrasound results as a guide if anything else needed checking.
    Just a thought.. praying for you, loved Pipers mittens... and her smile, understand what you mean re medical expenses.
    Hugs prayers, Shaz.x

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  18. Love Piper's purple mitts; you're such a nice Grandma! Glad she's feeling better, too. Hope you're all done with that endoscopy with good results, too. Can't wait to see what you ordered from KnitPicks!

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  19. Oh Betsy, I'm so so sorry you had to go through all that pain. But I'm thankful you got good news. And I hope the endoscopy will be clear also. Poor Mandy and Piper. I'm glad Piper only had a mild case and I hope Mandy is all well now. After this cold I've had for 2 weeks now, I sincerely hope I dodge the flu. And yes, I've had my flu shot but there's always that chance that a strain will slip through.
    Hugs,
    Sharon

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  20. What a sweet picture of Piper and her new mittens! I'm so sorry to hear about you having to go through another mammogram! I know what you mean about the out of pocket expense! It just is so ridiculous. I hope that all turns out well for you and the tests! Many hugs to you today dear friend!

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