Monday, Monday

There I was on Friday afternoon at the lake.  It was 103F outside so I sat inside the trailer with the A/C on full blast, Sophie on my lap and crocheted the afternoon away while watching TV.  Nita and Lori were swimming in the lake but I'm not allowed to do that. 


I want to thank each one of you for the sweet comments and all of the love you've shown me over the past few weeks.  I can't believe how much it means to me to have you all thinking of me and praying for me. It was a rough weekend pain wise.  My sweet Mandy has made me put another call into the doctor this morning.  I haven't heard from them yet.  She said I shouldn't be having this much swelling and pain almost four weeks after surgery.  I hope they have some answers.  Now, enough of that.  There were some pleasant moments.


This was sunset Friday night.  They took me to the beach in the golf cart so I could at least wade in the lake after it cooled off a bit. (I think it was about 90F).  Look at that sunset.

Just a few minutes later... We have so many fires burning up here right now.  Friday night there was one about 15 miles away from our trailer.  It went from 10 acres to over 200 in just a few hours.  I think it's in the "mop up" stage now.

This was the plume of smoke we saw when it first began.

Larry and Dennis during my wading excursion.

The sky on Saturday.  Smoke from the Chelan, WA fire and the Ford, WA fire were both drifting directly over us.  It doesn't look much better today here in Spokane.  It reeks of smoke when we go outside.  Since it was so nasty we had to stay inside the trailer on Saturday, we decided to come home after dinner.  Compare this with my normal gorgeous blue sky and lake photos.  So sad.  But there were still skiers out there!

I did get all of these hats made while sitting inside the trailer Friday and Saturday!

Now I'm off to the airport to pick up my sister and brother in law.  They'll be here until Saturday.  It will be SO good to see them.

Blessings and much love to you all.

Betsy

Hmmmmm

Hello my friends.  I'm sorry I've been away for an entire week.  Not a lot to say I guess.

I have been knitting baby hats. I got six out of one skein of yarn.  One had to be made preemie size to be able to finish it.

Two hats made from Teresa's crochet pattern and another one "on the hook".

I had a baby blanket half done but decided I didn't like it so I ripped it out completely.  I have another one started now.


I've had a bit of a trying week.  Lots of pain and lots of tears.  I don't know why I keep crying all the time.  I'm NOT normally like his.  I have started taking Bach Flowers, Rescue Remedy and it seems to be helping.  Nita swears by it.  I don't know if Dennis would think it's helping though.  He's so frustrated.  Men fix things.  He wants to fix me.

I talked to the nurse this morning at the cardiologists office.  She said my recovery will take a bit longer than normal for a couple of reasons.  I don't have much fat where the pacemaker is.  (That's the only place on my body without much fat!)  So it will apparently take longer to "settle in".  Also, my surgery was pretty traumatic.  Almost 4 hours instead of 1 1/2 that was planned.  I still have lots of swelling and bruising, especially under my left arm.  Try shaving there ladies!  Ha!  Too much information?


I have gone to the lake a couple of times with Nita and last weekend with Dennis and Chloe and although I love it there, I'm still in pain and frustrated at not doing anything.  I made potato salad this morning and it wore me out.  It's supposed to be 101F for the next 3 days, so I think I'll be hibernating either at home in the air conditioning or in the trailer in the air conditioning!


Now, before I bring you all down to my level of blah with all of my "ick", I'm going to stop writing.  I have been reading your blogs and I'm enjoying your summer and travels immensely.

"Search me oh God, and know my heart: test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  Psalm 139:23-24


Blessings,
Betsy

Good News

Hello again!

I've been enjoying reading blogs today.  I have joined Teresa on her journey across the country on her way to meet what seems to be her entire family.  She has posted some amazing historical photos.  If you don't currently read her blog, I encourage you to look her up on my sidebar and join in her trip.

Then, my bloggy friend Pammy Sue has moved across the country and lives within spitting distance of me.  Well, a few hours anyway, which in this blogging world is pretty close.  I'm so looking forward to meeting her in real life and her new home is in a gorgeous part of this country.  She's "Scotty's Place" on my sidebar.

And Hubby took me to the doctor this morning and the cardiologist has given me the all clear to drive again.  I still can't lift anything heavier than 5 lbs with my left arm and 10 lbs with my right and no swimming, etc. But I'm not trapped at home anymore.  I must admit that driving scares me a bit.  The seatbelt will go directly over the incision site and so the doctor had suggestions as to different padding options  for the seatbelt.

He seemed very surprised to see how much better I am than I was last Thursday.  He also said he really expected that he would be re-admitting me to the hospital for a lead revision, but everything has steadily improved over the last week.  I think it was because I got to go to the lake-the best medicine.  :-)  I have also been doing exactly as I was told and not overdoing it.  AND most important, many, many people have been praying for me.  I appreciate it.  So even though I can't raise my arm very high, I am on the mend finally.

Nita and I went to the lake for the night Monday night.  Just us girls.  She had Tuesday off work and Dennis had a late meeting so off we went.  It was so quiet and beautiful there without the weekend crowds.  Sophie helped me knit on my sock yarn blanket.  Tiny needles and tiny yarn=slow progress but I'm enjoying it.  I take it out and put a few rows on every so often.

I picked about 2 quarts of green beans yesterday and blanched and froze them for winter eating.  It takes me forever to get anything done these days, but that's okay.

Yesterday I made two baby hats and started another one.

My sister and brother in law are coming to visit for a week on August 3.  They live in Iowa and I don't get to see them often at all.  This trip has been planned since before my surgery.  I'm so looking forward to sitting and visiting with them.  When my sister and I get together the laughter and talking NEVER stops.  Gosh I love her.

Then, as if that wasn't enough excitement our son Jamie texted this morning and asked if he could come over with our two oldest grandbabies that weekend!  Oh my goodness, yes!  We haven't seen them since Thanksgiving and I just can't wait.  He's looking forward to seeing his aunt and uncle too.

Life is good.  Thank you for the sweet comments on my last post.  I was feeling pretty low and the difference this week has made is unbelievable.  I'm still nowhere near 100%, but I am so much better. I think a lot of it was the well wishes from all of you.  Thank you so much for being here for me.

Tonight we're having a potluck for about 15 people here at our house.  Dennis vacuumed and dusted last night.  He has been so wonderful.  He always is, but the past few weeks have made me realize just how much he loves me and takes good care of me.

Have a lovely weekend my friends.

"Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard for you."  Jeremiah 32:17

Blessings,

Betsy