[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's June! School's Out! Let the Summer Fun Begin! #63502

Just sitting here being lazy. Jerry and I are going to drive in to town shortly and eat at a Mexican restaurant that makes really great fahita’s. We will get some chips and dip also; so Jerry will need his Tums afterward. We are both just in the mood for it tonight. Sounds like a solemn service today for you, DD. Goodness, how I pray for peace all over the world.
Adele, I have a Quacker zip up jacket that is bright pink and inside the hood and the lining is bright orange. I love it. There is no way you cannot be happy wearing these bright colors. It even has those big sparkly zipper things. So I think you will look great. I surprised myself when I bought it, but I am so glad I did.
Joey is working this weekend. He is ordering pizza delivered during this evening for staff. Poor Jerry. He is so worried about a man who has recently moved into his Mom’s place. He is not sure where he is and he keeps trying to talk Jerry into taking him home so his wife will know he is alive. Jerry tries every time he visits his Mom that his wife knows where he is; but of course, he forgets what Jerry just told him the day before, and that makes Jerry so sad. He talked to me about us having something like this happening to us; and it is so hard for us to even talk about things like that. I really don’t know what to say.
Gail, I will certainly keep your friend in my prayers as well as our Colleen for the surgeries. This will be a busy time for everyone.
Take care everyone. Hope you have a wonderful evening. Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's June! School's Out! Let the Summer Fun Begin! #63422

Well, we are having sunny/stormy/rainy day here today, and it just keeps jumping back and forth. But the thunder I can deal with and the rain; even when it is pouring is so much better than we have had. Would you believe that there are still thousands without electricity in Memphis? This has been for over a week now. So we are very grateful that ours was only out 15 hours so we are not complaining. I did have to clean out the freezer. I was just too afraid to eat anything in there; because even though we didn’t open the freezer the ice cream and the meats were just cool, not cold. And I know you should not ever eat anything that has partially thawed and then has been refrozen.
Colleen, praying for you with your eye surgeries coming up. My Dad had both his eyes done too, and I remember his using drops I think (years ago) but he did really well. He had a pupil transplant in one eye due to his going blind in that eye, and that went well too, thankfully. I know my BIL has had some surgery recently on one eye for his not being able to have good vision on the side, and he always tells me and Jerry to get our eyes checked frequently. We are both due for change in our glasses; and we should go soon. So glad the eye doctor found this so he can go ahead and take care of your eyes. Are your eyes doing okay, Gail? Have you noticed any difference since you first got your diagnosis of degeneration? Hope all is going well for you.
Your story Gail, of how your parents were smart enough to know young people will “experiment” with grown up things with or without their permission, was very smart, I think, on their part. Both my parents smoked when I was young, but had quit long before I became a teenager, and for some reason, I just wasn’t interested in smoking (I did try mabey 3 times, coughed a lot, and gave it up) and could not stand the taste of beer; so I was a real fuddy dud. Jerrys Dad had the same theory, if you want to try a cigarette or a beer, sit with me, and we will see how you like it right here at our house. He was not judgemental, and Jerry said he really thinks that is one of the reasons he started smoking so early in life, but felt his Dad was right, since he watched all his older brothers smoking, and he knew in his heart that he would too, given permission or not. I was prould when Jerry was able to quit after 3 really hard fought attempts, when Neal was little, and he told me that to this day that sometimes someone will light up one and he will just catch a whif of the smoke and he wants one so badly. So my hat is off to anyone who wants to stop and is trying. It must be SO hard.
Adele, I had to read your story to Jerry about your car buying experience. We were laughing so hard, not at you, but with you. THis is exactly what we go through when “car shopping” and it can get so embarassing with all the “we have to have so and so” list that you can just see in the salespersons eyes that they are thinking “why me?” did I get these two. And when you said you could sleep now with all the shall we say, reminders, to Gary that he is about to mess up, Jerry said, gosh, she sounds just like you, Barbara. I would just LOVE it if you would just go to sleep and LET ME DRIVE. I am always saying to him, slow down, they are putting on the brakes ahead of us, watch that car, you are getting too close, you are going too fast, well you know. So thanks for the good laugh. We needed it.
Gail, yes, Jerry snores! There are so many nights that I just want to push him and do at times to almost wake him up and he will stop hopefully long enough for me to get to sleep. But most times, he just picks right back up and yes, I have bought the ear plugs, but it makes it SO quiet that then I can actually “hear” myself breathing, and can’t sleep for that. I am like you, I need some type of white noise, but a gentle noise. I like you when I am just about to scream, remind myself how much I would be giving to hear him snore if he wasn’t here, but gosh I feel your pain. We have tried every position, back or side and nothing seems to help. Jerry really feels badly when he knows he has kept me awake, but at 3 am that is of little comfort.
Are any of your grands going to camp this summer? Do they still have this?
DD. you have really had a lot of things going on in your area. I think I was hearing something today about some rally in your area this weekend where they are expecting violence. I just don’t know what to think or say anymore. Why can we not just be good and kind to one another even if we don’t agree or have the exact same opinions about things? Hope I just misunderstood.
Enjoy your weekend everyone. What color is your new car Adele? I was just thinking how you can color co-ordinate your Quacker outfit as you and Gary go breezing about town this weekend in you new ride. Have fun. Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's May! Let's Celebrate Mothers and Memorial Day. #63266

Hello everyone! We have had some really bad storms here over the last couple of weeks. Our power went out for over 15 hours at ten at night the first time. We knew from the weather on TV that the storm would hit here within just a few minutes. Jerry had me put the kitty in his carrier, and the three of us got in the laundry room. That is the first time ever that he actually told me to go get in there; so he must have heard something because the wind was howling so loud and the trees were cracking and popping. It passed quickly; but did lots of damage. Thankfully we all were safe; and Joey was off that night so he was with Lisa in their pantry. The lights finally came back on for us; but in Memphis there are many still out; including at Jerrys Mom’s house. Trees are uprooted everywhere and power lines down. Hope you all are okay. I really worried about everyone; because it just seemed to cover such a large path.
The only two things we had for Memorial Day dinner was grilled pork and potato salad. We didn’t get a chance to fight the crowds of people from the storm that were at the store, and the kids said that was fine they were just happy we all were okay. Lisa broght up a frozen pie that she had in their freezer that was kind of like chocolate ice cream and whipped cream topping. It was good.
In case I have missed any of your children, or grands who may have graduated this year; I know that is a big step in their lives; so congratulations. It seems so long ago since I granduated; such a different world. It seems so innocent to me now; but simple things like getting caught or sneaking around to smoke or heaven forbid; drink a beer; was so frowned on. And I remember how one of my dear friends became pregnant during 11th grade; and how her parents sent her off to “visit her sick aunt”, and then she came back and started back to school; no baby but never the same. It was so sad that here family was so “disgraced” that they didn’t even keep her precious baby, but as years went by I thought who can say but that might have been better for the child to be with someone loving. So you know; I am old. Now it is just something and I even saw where you can buy the pill they take the next morning to stop a baby out of their vending machines at school. My how times have changed.
I think I have mentioned to you all how my brother who is an artist used to take pencil etchings from graves in Lousiana and then he would trace back their history. He was absolutely facinated with it. You all were talking about how you cry when you hear some songs. I was like a weeping willow all of Memorial Day. When I saw those families at Arlington National Cemetery and then got to thinking of how many people have rushed into horror to protect us knowing they would not see their loved ones again; my heart just breaks at their sacrifices. Even Jerry was crying. I so understand your emotions. I think that is one special reason I enjoy visiting with you all so much; we just care, and we are not ashamed to show it.
Better go for now and try to catch up on this laundry. We are beginning to wear the same outfit more than one day. LOL Take care everyone. Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's May! Let's Celebrate Mothers and Memorial Day. #62992

Hello everyone. Sounds like you all have been having some good times with your friends and families. We have been busy with the lawyer parts of doing the home selling thing, and going back and forth with all the errands; and then trying to squeeze actually taking care of some of our pwn things on our “to do” list. The children sound so cute in graduation and baseball. Isn’t it funny how they can just come up with things that you would not have ever thought of them saying or doing. I am not at all surprised about the butterfly hair decoration, Miss Gail. She is just following a good tradition and I know you were proudly beaming. Neal sent us another video of our little crab moving along to get his toy that Neal sits right outside his reach. He will seem frustrated and rock back and forth on his little hands and knees wanting Neal to get it for him and Neal keeps saying “come on, you can do it” and then he will try again and get to it. Then he just smiles. We feel so blessed to be able to talk with him live skyping and see and hear him in real time. It is a joy for me and Jerry, and we get to see Neal too. Just helps us with them being so far away.
Hope the salesman comes through with a good deal for you Adele for your new car. It is a big decision whether to go ahead and get a new car and feel like we have done the right thing. There has certainly been more than once that I have had second thoughts. But all you can do is just do what you think is right. It is so smart to have the security cameras. That was something we had had installed at Maw Maw’s too while she was doing good and living at her home. It is sad that we live in a day that this is so necessary, but it is what it is as they say. I saw this thing on TV the other day that I really am thinking seriously about getting for me and Jerry. It is a small clip on or wear device that when you are in danger, or sick, or lost or in some kind of trouble, you push the bit button on it and it automaticly dials 911, and they start talking to you on this little button thing that you just pushed, and it does it from wherever in the country you are. It has some type of gps that lets them know your exact location when you push it to call them; and even if you are say sick, and not able to talk, it sends the police right to that spot to find you and bring you help. I was talking to Neal about getting one for Sarah and the baby; for Sarah to clip to her blouse or purse or whatever and she could call for help that way if she was to need it, and then when they are all together; they still take it wherever they go. It was not just designed for the elderly, but for everyone. I am really going to check more into it, but it surely made sense to me. I will let you all know if any one may be interested.
We don’t really have an special Memorial Day plans. They are calling for rain again starting tomorrow. We have some pork to grill in the freezer; and not sure yet if we will just end up doing it in the oven with potato salad, and I would like to have some fresh corn and a nice fruit salad. So we are taking it just a day at a time here. As long as the bad storms keep away then I will be happy. Sounds like weather is making most of the decisions for you all too. But hope it is good for everyone; whatever our plans are.
I was surprised to see that Jacque had left the Q as well. She surely kept it private. I enjoyed her and she seemed to enjoy what she was doing. Some of the hosts I just cannot watch; just a personal preference, but I don’t watch as much as I used to unless it’s my Quacker. LOL
Take care all; and be careful this weekend. Talk soon. Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's May! Let's Celebrate Mothers and Memorial Day. #62731

I am surely glad you mentioned about your daughter graduating, Colleen. Congratulations,by the way. I surely hope she decides to walk because I think she will want that memory as time goes by, and I know you all want to see it. One of our dear neighbors grandson is graduating also; and you helped me remember that I still need to get him a little gift card and graduation card. I graduated in 1966; ancient times. The really big thing back then at our school was to have a BEER after you graduated (the guys did this). Can you believe how innocent we were? All of us graduates met up at the favorite BBQ place afterwards unless you had plans with your family and most of the families even came there too ha ha. I was in what was called Distributive Education in my senior year; which was just a fancy way of your getting to leave school at noon and go to a JOB. I worked for the neighborhood MD on Monday-Friday and Sat. mornings; so no late night dates on Friday night for me. So this old girl really has been doing medical things most of my life. What was your first job if you took one outside the home? I really wanted to be an airline stewardess; but didn’t want to be away from Jerry. Isn’t it funny how things really influence the roads we take in life?
I love your “skeletal” description for the stick figured folks, Adele. Made me laugh. It also made me laugh to think that just being 20 pounds “overweight” would make us morbid. That is unbelieveable. If I was just 20 pounds overweight I would think I was doing great!
It is muggy here today. Jerry and I have decided we have to get a new mattress. Any good suggestions that have helped you all? His back is really bothering him and now it is getting pretty bad in his hips. We went to a good mattress store recently; and we tried to lie down on several to see how they were feeling to him; but it got so hard for us to keep getting up and down on them, and we were both getting embarassed. I don’t know why the salesperson just wouldn’t let us be alone and he kept trying to help me and Jerry and that just made it worse. So I have been looking up all I can about them on the computer. We have one of those now that you can adjust the amount of air that goes in each side in these chambers but it is over 10 years old, and I don’t think it really works anymore. Jerry is really wanting just a regular mattress and boxed springs; but not sure where to start. So anything you all may have that works for you I surely would appreciate a heads up for us to consider it.
Today is Neals birthday. This is his first one away from here. I sent him a message this morning at exactly the time in Ca. that would have been the time here when he was born to wish him a good birthday. He has to work today; and he wrote back that he knows he will miss his cake, but I told him that I bet Sarah will have a cake for him. He is our youngest and is 32 today. Got my little tears of missing him out of the way early today. Just know time is moving so quickly for us now. But I bet he has a great day; and wouldn’t be surprised if work let’s him leave a little early today to celebrate.
Take care everyone, and enjoy the rest of your day. Hugs, Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's May! Let's Celebrate Mothers and Memorial Day. #62707

Hope everyone is having a good evening. Sue, I am so proud of you for the progress you are making. This recovery is just going to take TIME; and it is just human nature for us to want to be back to our old selves after we have had surgery, but our body just has to rest. I used to coax families to go to their home (take turns because I knew someone would want to be there at all times), but that if they could take turns to go to their own home and get in their own bed and rest; as hard as I knew it was. I told them that we are there to see about their loved one 24 hours a day; and how important rest is for the patient and for the family. I would also encourage the patient to not feel guilty if they needed to just rest; because I would see them so many times trying so hard to stay awake just to make others feel like they were fine. I know you must have been exhausted by 4 in the afternoon to see PT. I asked them to please come see me as early as they could. It surprised me when they said no problem, that most people don’t want them there before noon. So you are doing even better, and if your pain medicine is making you feel bad let the doctor know; like Adele said, it may not agree with you. A sort of funny story for me was I was looking at my chart one day after sitting in the exam room for over an hour, and it said I was morbidly obese. Now, I know I am really big, but I thought to myself, who makes this decision of what weight a person is and puts this “label” and what in the world do they put on a 400 pound person’s chart-“gigantic hippo” LOL Seriously though, guess it just sort of hurt my feelings. I always said if I ever became small that I wouldn’t ever look down on larger folks. Course; I haven’t had to experience that yet ha ha
Colleen; I know exactly what you mean about how nurses can really be “uppity” with the CNA. I started my life in medicine as a CNA and worked SO hard. A good nursing assistant is so important in taking care of the patient. I bet you were so good to your patients. They were lucky to have someone like you to help them. You have such a good heart. I would always have the new nurses spend one full day on the unit assigned to a CNA who would explain the aides duties, and the nurse would follow them and assist them so they would hopefully see the aide as an important person to help them and the patient.
Gail, glad you made it safely through the storm. They are SO scary. Glad Gregs friend is doing better. That is good news. You as well that Gary got good news Adele. So sorry that you are having such problems getting your ankle cared for. Take care, my friend and I hope you get the appointment. Better close for now, and have a great weekend. Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's May! Let's Celebrate Mothers and Memorial Day. #62680

Wet have a HOT day here today with some storms supposed to be looming around the corner. It seems like at times the storm just waits until the minute either Joey or Lisa is leaving for work; and then the “bottom falls out” as they say around here. He keeps an extra pair of scrubs in his locker because he has gotten soaked on his way to work before. Colleen he is in charge of the whole facility at night; so he works in an office and out on the floor all over. He told them when they asked him to take the manager slot that he didn’t want to not be taking care of the residents. He said all he could think about was how I told him that was what I missed the most was being able to actually spend time with patients. I still would go out in the unit and start IV’s or other things that I won’t bore you all about, but I love hands on care and I just personally think a nurse can make all the difference in the world in how the patient feels.
I do know a little about Cookville, Tn. It is located about half way between Nashville and Knoxville Tn. We were there years ago to see Cane Creek Park, and camped there. The kids loved it, and Jerry and I had a good time too. That was back when we could do a lot of swimming, and we did a lot of camping. It seems like they had lots of vegetable roadside stands and boy were those tomatoes good. It is not a big city, but not tiny either. But it may have grown a lot since we were there. We stopped there for a few days on our way to Chattanooga. I just remember we had fun so I think your youn g family will enjoy it. And it is not that far from Nashville, and that in one booming city. I really like Nashville.
That was so sweet for Owen to be waiting for applause. I guess he was thinking, “what is wrong with you people?” Jerry got his Mom a wrist corsage for Mothers Day also. Of course; they can’t have anything sharp; so she really loved having that to wear on her wrist. Isn’t that sweet that the baby wants to be all grown up too? Neal is off today with the baby and he skyped us, and the baby laughs at me and Jerry making all our silly noises and in general making fools of ourselves. You know; talking about taking care of the puppy, Gail, I really understand what you mean in how you kind of have your routine settled into; and puppies and kitties are just babies and they do need LOTS of your time and attention. I always feel so bad for the little animals in the shelter that are either older and no one wants them; or young but not “so cute” as they were, and now they are just cast off.
I am trying a new crock pot recipe tonight. It is so simple, just some floured then browned boneless pork chops, and you use the rest of the seasoned flour you dredged the chops in and mix that with a can of chicken broth and pour over the chops cook for about 2 1/2 hours on high and they are supposed to be tasty and very tender. The flour dredge has some dried mustard, garlic, and salt in it. Hope it tastes good; because I just didn’t feel like standing at the stove frying chops today. So I will let you all know. It is smelling good. Just add me some veggies, rolls, and I got a cheesecake from Costco so that is covered.
Hope you all have a good evening. I have kind of made Jerry take a few days off. He really needed it. We are supposed to have a rainy weekend; so as long as it is just rain; I will be grateful. Have to find our blessings wherever we can. Take care Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's May! Let's Celebrate Mothers and Memorial Day. #62627

Gosh, girls, we are really having our problems with aches and pains,aren’t we? Hope you all are doing better today. Hope Garys test came out good, Adele. Hope they gave him some good sleepy time medicine during the procedure. I know you have had a busy day puppy sitting, Gail. It is so different when they are young and have so much energy. You don’t happen to have one of those stretchy ankle support things do you Adele? Jerry has to wear one sometimes; and it seems to keep his ankle from turning when he takes a step. HIs looks like half a sock. I hope that PT has shown up and is helping you Sue. They really need to be exercising that joint to help keep it looser; and even though there is no way to do the exercises without some pain; it will actually help in the long run. I know Colleen knows more about this than me with her medical experience, but I have seen it help so many including me.
Well, wouldn’t you know it, the weather has been sunny all day here and now it is thundering like crazy. I count my blessings though if it just is thunder and rain, and not those awful storms. I just feel so badly for everyone in the path of those things.
You all are right about Colin really going to be on the move now that he has learned how to crawl. It seems like it is no time until they are up on those little legs and holding on to the sofa and walking. Neal said he wants everything (like coasters) that they are saying no to and once he spies something that catches his eye that he is relentless trying to get to it. LOL They are “baby proofing” everything now. Jerry and I read him a book some of our visits and show him pictures in the book. Sometimes he stays interested the whole book; other time, not. ha ha Jerry and I are still doing the Readers Digest thing most nights. We don’t seem to have the stay awake power to get into a book. We fall asleep even more quickly in a book. But we get to laughing at some stories in the Digest.
The bloodhound ate some of my Iris: but I know the rest will come back up. I planted those things in a big pot on the patio the day Joey left to go in the AF; which is over ten years ago now; but they are still coming back every year. I must say; they are one of the only flower things I have gotten off the Q that has lived. I have no luck with plants from the TV. I finally gave up ordering them and go to the local stores and those do okay.He has a really sweet personality; but Jerry will always feel bad at him for what he did to his GInko trees. He is still busy spraying on them, and doing tons of other things. I just don’t ask him what he is up too as long as he is not complaining. LOL
Better close for now since the thundering is getting worse. I think I forgot to answer you Colleen about if Joey works in a nursing home. He works in a combination Rehab and Long Term Care facility. They have some residents that have been there for years/some with dementia and others clear but just live there. Then the rehab area where they have a really nice PT department. It is where Jerrys’ Mom went after her fall. Joey is really kind and compassionate with the elderly. I am very proud of him for that.
Hope everyone has a good evening; safe and sound. From the rumbling state of Tennessee Barbara

[Barbara Smith]

in reply to: It's May! Let's Celebrate Mothers and Memorial Day. #61748

Hi Ladies! Sorry you and DD are not feeling too well, Colleen. Hope today is a better day. Your kitty looks perfectly contented DD. Mine is giving me his little “pitiful” meow right now; since I walked out of the kitchen and he had seen me with a new bag of his kitty treats and didn’t open them; so now I am going through the guilty phase. I literally have to try to take them out of the grocery bag when he is not looking or he acts like he is just starving LOL
Yes, I am beyond words happy that Colin is better. He crawled for the first time on Mothers Day! Neal sent us a video. It was so cute. Thank you so much for letting me know about what happened to your daughter Adele with her little kidney as a child. I know after over 35 years of some form of nursing that is is simply not right for anyone to run a fever like that for days, and you all are smart and know this too, but it is so hard when you are saying just the opposite of what a doctor is telling someone, and how to convince them that the doctor is just plain wrong! But before I let something like that keep going on I would fly out there myself and make an enemy for life if I had to in order to get that baby some help. I really thank all of you for the good advice. We help each other, don’t we? And speaking of that I will have to put back on that nurses uniform and friend hat Sue, and ask you to please try as hard as you can to not get discouraged. It is just so hard for us strong take care of things, women, to have to really slow down and let our bodies heal and be patient waiting for that healing to happen. I know you are in pain, and one little piece of advice on that is that pain medicine is really designed to keep a steady level of it in your bloodstream 24 hours a day and if we wait too long in between taking it, then it really does take longer for the medicine to take effect and to ease our pain. Now keep in mind that this advice is coming from someone who DETESTS taking medicine, and went years without taking hardly any pain medicine because I thought it would make it take longer for me to heal. So now; I have learned, that every 6 hours, to take my medicine even if I am not hurting too badly at the time, and it keeps me from really hurting badly when another few hours have passed. I am certainly not an advocate of just swallowing pain pills but if you are hurting, and I know you have been after the surgery you have gone through and also, take your pain medicine about 30 minutes BEFORE you have to do your PT or make that trip to the doctors office, to help keep you from hurting so badly. Also, one last thing, call the doctors office when you first get in your car to leave, and ask them to have a wheelchair to meet you when you call them back as you get there, so you can ride in that inside the office and back out to your car. They should gladly make that available for you.
Well, I have preached for so long, I have to check on my pie, but I will try to write more a little later. Bye for now, Barbara (I will gladly include your friend Nan in my prayers, Gail)

[Author]

Posts