Category Archives: family matters

Daily Prompt: Whoa!

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What’s the most surreal experience you’ve ever had?

As a young nurse, I admitted my very first patient around three o’clock in the morning. I became a nurse, long before Assisted Living Homes and Hospices, were on every corner.

The gentlemen I admitted was in the hospital to be made comfy in his last few hours. His family was with him.It was real sad to see him so sick, but he was headed to a better, pain-free place.

He wasn’t with me long, within the hour after admission, I suggested to his family that they spend time together and say their good-byes. Within the hour, he had passed away. 

While in the room, taking care of my last details.The gentlemen’s brother walked to the bed, placed his hand on his leg and stated,

“I’d give anything to see him take one more breath.” 

The patient had not moved a muscle in over ten minutes, the minute his brother made his statement, the patient sat straight up in the bed, his eyes open, took a deep breath and smiled. He fell backwards, onto his pillow and never moved again.

Being my first admission, I will never forget this man and his family. I truly believe I saw an act of God that night.

Daily Prompt: All About Me! (US)

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Explain why you chose your blog’s title and what it means to you.

Our Blog’s T.le: Two Rights Attempting to Make a Left

Barry and I came up with the title together. It is based on our health issues over the last few years. In 2009, I was discovered to have a brain tumor (gangliocytoma) in my left cerebellum. After a long period, we were told that the brain tumor was just a symptom of a rare genetic disease called Cowden’s Syndrome.

Needless to say we were dumbfounded. I had surgery in 2009 to reduce the tumor, but it was impossible to remove it in its entirety. So, life goes on.

Things were going along great, no magor problems, then December 11, 2012 came around. It started as a normal day, we were assisting the resident’s with morning care. I heard a resident calling for help.

To my shock, it was not for him. It was my sweet husband. He was in the process of having a stroke. I called for an ambulance and off to the hospital we went. Although Barry had a massive right territory MCA, he looked perfectly fine. It was hard to believe a week earlier, they had asked me to call all the family in because they did not believe he would make it through the night.

Months later,  a rehab counselor recommended, that we either start a journal or a blog. With the two of us being computer oriented, we chose to do a blog. Oddly enough, the title is related to both of our injuries. We were attempting to get something in the stove. Neither of us could do it with both hands, so he got one end with his right hand and I got the other. It came to us about the same time, that we were two right hands trying to use our lefts.

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So we named the blog:

Two rights attempting to make a left!

Nothing fancy, just the two us working together to keep a sense of normalcy.

Daily Prompt: Childhood Revisited

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Sure, you turned out pretty good, but is there anything you wish had been different about your childhood? If you have kids, is there anything you wish were different for them?

I am doing my best to decide how to put this in writing. I thought about this all day and have narrowed it down to two things I wish would have been different in my childhood. I’ll do my best not to ramble, please be patient.

My sisters and I had a traditional southern upbringing, dysfunctional family and all. Our parents encouraged us to study, we knew right from wrong, and we loved each other. Mom and dad worked all the time. Mom stayed home until we were old enough to be left home alone and then she started working, She was home when we needed her, or at lease close-by.

Dad left in the mornings before we ever got up and was not home until we were in bed. On the weekends, he worked his secondary business and was home only at night. We had our family nights when dad was home. We actually had breakfast and supper around the dining room table several times a week.

I grew up wanting for nothing.  If we ever wanted anything extravagant, we had to save our money up or wait for a sale. I believe that is where my frugal attitude comes from today!

During the summer months, mom and dad always made sure we stayed busy. I know my way around the Bible, a softball field, a basketball court, and a swimming pool. Mom and dad made it to the important events, but there were times we were on our own.

One of the things I wish could were different from my childhood is going to church as a family, instead of being dropped off at the door to attend services with my sisters. Don’t get me wrong, my sisters and I are close, due to the time we spent together. It would have been nice having mom and dad with us at church. I truly believe that they both believe the Jesus died to save us from our sins, but I cannot help feeling unsure of their salvation.

Mom lives with me now, and attends everything Barry and I attend at church. Dad is a different story. I do not remember the last time I saw him in church for something other than a funeral. His health is declining and he does not get out like he used to, but I know he grew-up in the church. It would have been joyous to have all five of us in church at the same time. Well, the past is the past. All we can do now is look forward.

My second thing I wish could have been different during my childhood is medical technology. From the time I entered kindergarten through high school, I was always sick.

Mom spoiled me rotten and my sisters still pick on me today, because of that.

I was part guinea pig when they thought they had figured out a treatment for allergies. They did all the testing and I suffered through the intramuscular injections for years, before they figured out it could be done with a subcutaneous needle, just under the skin. The nurse’s from the seventies, learned to give an intramuscular injection into the shoulder. There were several times I actually felt the needle hitting the bone. It was so painful. I took the injections without success for years and then refused to go.

In my teenage years I developed female troubles. We let the doctor do the known treatment for my problem at the time and it rendered me unable to have children.

If today’s medical technology had been around in the seventies, maybe I could have had a normal childhood and been able to have kids today. In my world, Claritin is the best invention of the twentieth century. When I was younger, Dristan was it. With today’s medical technology in the past, maybe brain tumor research would be further along today and I wouldn’t need a wheelchair when my legs do not work.

My life has been God‘s plan and it is not my place to question it. I read my Bible and try to stay upbeat and focused. I pray daily and ask for grace and wisdom to help me make it through the day. I exercise to stay strong and keep busy. My blog is my refuge for my feelings and such. It helps me not to hold things in. I write them down. It is very therapeutic to me. My counselor advised me to either do a journal or start a blog.

To summarize, my parents being more involved with my sisters and I at church; as well as, today’s medical technology being available in the seventies, would have made my childhood a better place to be. Honestly, I wouldn’t interfere with God’s plan for my life. I grew up loved and happy. Everything else is all good!

If, if, if, maybe, maybe, maybe…….

I hate falling!

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Hand on Cane

I’ve done it again. This time I tangled with the throw rug in the master bathroom, but me thinks I’ve done my left knee in, again.

Just over a year ago, I tore the meniscus cartilage in my knee. This time, I couldn’t put weight on the knee and it was swollen down into my foot. The doctor said nothing broken, she wanted to check because of the swelling. She gave me a topical ointment for pain, which is some good stuff; sent me home to grease it up and stay off it! She also did a cortisone shot…worked….ehh???

She said when I return; if it is no better, she’ll get a joint MRI (where they inject die in the knee) to see what the damage is. If needed, we’ll talk surgery then. 

I truly prefer not to hear those words, but I have to be able to walk. I asked the doctor; if they have to operate, can I get a 2 for 1 deal? I’ve dealt with my solid tumor in my right wrist, the doctor has said it will need to come out. I figure, while I’m asleep, let them fix both. Save me one episode of general anesthesia. We’ll see. I’m ready to NOT be in pain!

Awards Office is closed till morning***Update, Update!!!!!!

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Three down and two more to go….I’m going to bed. Have a great evening everyone! *******Update, folks! My body is not cooperating today, we’ll be closed one more day! Be patient, I’m almost complete!….Jill

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Choosing a retirement car

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When you retire, do you go for creature comforts or do you get the car you always wanted, but didn’t want to spend the money? These days,  what is my scooter carrier gonna do to the look of a hot rod?

Better yet, what are Barry and I gonna look like getting out of a hot rod? Can I get out of a hot rod? What is an old woman going wear in a hot rod. Barry has not wanted to spend the money on the car, but he has plenty of gear to wear. Trust me! He has been hot rod ready for several years.

I do not want to be the reason he is not getting the car he always wanted. If. It comes down to it, he can get a lift and swivel put on my seat.

Barry driving, not his hot-rod!

Barry driving, not his hot-rod!

 

Mom and I do not know what to call it…

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Mom came to me this morning and said she needed to talk. I requested she let me get breakfast finished and meet me in the living room. She sat down on the couch and stated,

“Jill, I’m scared and do not know what to do.”

Now she was scaring me. I did not know what to think. I asked her;

“Mom, tell me what’s wrong? Are you OK? You are scaring me, talk to me, please.”

She continued with the dreams she was experiencing and they were scaring her. She was swearing she was awake first thing in the mornings and would close her eyes and see trees. She’d open her eyes again and everything is fine.

She said every time she’d close her eyes, something weird would happen. There were times she said that when her eyes closed, it was like she was looking in a mirror. She stuck her tongue out at the image, and it did the same back at her. 

She is still seeing the child floating around the house in a rocker. She asked if Barry and I were seeing it. Of course, I told her no. Next she kept repeating, I’m going crazy, that is the only answer.

We called the doctor to discuss her medications and possible interactions. Mom takes a lot of vitamins. At this time, her doctor thinks she is having a drug interaction between one of her vitamins and drugs. We have her on the right track.

Hopefully, this will solve the problem within a week. If not, I’ll be in search of a specialist and taking her vitamins/pills away from her and giving them to her myself. She will not take that well. She thinks we think she is stupid as it is, I might start World War Three taking her medicines and vitamins from her.

Can I runaway from home? Am I too old? I guess I should take Barry and Maggie with me. 

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Importance of Sleep

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Main health effects of sleep deprivation (See ...

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Have you ever had one of those days when nothing goes you’re way?

Two days ago, I hadn’t rested well for over a week. I had a free day and thought”awww, I’ll get some rest”. Little did you know, the people I live with are making plans.

Mom was feeling good and decided she wanted to go work out and wanted me to go with her. She pops her head in my room and screeches wake-up, sleepyhead. I told her to “go away”. When she left, I was wide awake, so I got up and had breakfast. I tried my best to relax and sleep while she was gone. I was starting to doze off when she walked in again.

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Barry was not at home, so I let my mother know I was going to take a nap. I couldn’t get comfy in bed, so I headed for my favorite chair in the living room. I nicely asked her to let me nap.

I got comfy under my blanket and got ready for a good ole’ snooze. I was starting to relax and kinda dozey, when mom felt it necessary to check on me, in her high heeled boots. She does not have a clue how to walk quietly and on these hardwood floors. I politely told her I was fine and to please let me take a nap.

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She started some laundry while I was snoozing. The alarm on the machine kept going off. She got frustrated and woke me up. I got the washer going and headed back to sleep. It wasn’t 10 minutes later and it was buzzing again. I fixed the problem again and attempted to go back to sleep. The same cycle repeated so many times to the point that I was aggravated. Mom finally got her wash done and I got about an hours nap. All that managed to do was make me sleepier.

Barry walked in at 4pm, so it was time to get dinner going and spend time with my sweetheart.

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After dinner, I thought I’d relax s little and dozed off in my chair. About 2 hours later Barry had a meeting at the church. He woke me to say he was leaving. There I was, wide awake again.

I attempted to sleep while he was gone without success. He was home in a few hours and we got comfy for the evening. We sat in the living room watching NCIS and I dozed off again. I woke Barry to go to bed. I had just fallen asleep when he woke me up to let me know he was going to the living room, because he could not sleep. I tried for a few minutes to get back to sleep and I was wide awake again. I headed to the living room to watch TV around 3am.  I think I dozed off for a few minutes after 5am.

At 5:45am, Barry was rustling around in his chair and woke me up. It was time for him to get ready for work. I told him I was getting in the bed and if I was asleep when he left, please do not wake me to say goodbye. When I woke up at 1:30 pm the later that day, I felt a little better.

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I had some lunch, read a few emails and Barry was home early, due to the weather. He fixed the washing machine while I went back to sleep. I woke up in time to watch the Wednesday night church service on the internet and back to sleep I went. I woke around 1am and drug Barry off to bed. He was up and off to work this morning . Kissed me goodbye and I stayed in bed till 9am. I felt drugged getting up this morning, but I am not sleepy. I actually managed to get a day of rest. Thank you, God!

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Daily Prompt: Sliced Bread

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Most of us have heard the saying, “That’s the best thing since sliced bread!”What do you think is actually the best thing since sliced bread?

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At first, I was going to say the Bible. It is one of two things that I can count on using daily. I realized more than likely,  the Bible has been around longer than sliced bread, so that kinda put it out of the running.

Of course, I’m not sure whether anyone sliced bread in the Bible or they just broke pieces off. I’m a constant student of the Bible, but I am afraid this is one thing I cannot quote book and verse on. 

According to Wikipedia: 

Sliced bread is a loaf of bread which has been pre-sliced with a machine and packaged for convenience. It was first sold in 1928, advertised as “the greatest forward step in the baking industry since bread was wrapped”.[1] This led to the popular phrase, “the greatest thing since sliced bread“.

I refuse to say that the cell phone was my second choice and they, in my opinion,  are definitely not the “best thing since sliced bread”. Although, they are handy. We would all live without them! Yes, kids, you can live without your cell phone. Believe it are not, you can actually have a conversation with another human being. 

My personal opinion is that current medical technology qualifies as ” The best thing since sliced bread“. New innovations in every field of medicine improves the life of numerous people daily!

Barry and I are both still alive today, by the Grace of God and modern medical technology. I would have lost Barry twice  if someone hadn’t figured out how to replace the aortic valve and how to go into an artery of a patient, actively having a stroke, to manually remove the clot and stop progression of the damage that a stroke causes. 

The brain tumor I have was only diagnosed at autopsy before 1985. I thank God for giving someone the knowledge to invent the CAT Scan. I’m ready to take my place in heaven when the time is right, but for now I plan to enjoy every moment of life. Good or bad…..