Mom
A
s I believe I previously wrote, my mother is out of hospital and back in the rehab center. Unfortunately, the flu has hit the rehab center and all of the residents are basically restricted to their rooms: no trips to rehab, no common dining, etc. Yesterday Mom’s feet and upper arms were swelling, which evidently concerned her physician, who considered returning her to hospital. However, Mom told me this afternoon that the swelling was receding and she was feeling much better.
Alex
The cold weather, outside and inside, has been getting to Alex. He
has spent the past few nights not only snuggling against my body, but also completely beneath the covers. Still, the cat who owns me evidently came down with cabin fever. Today he demanded to go outside three times. The first two attempts led to him backing back into the house when he encountered the snow. However, the third time he leaped from the threshold onto the railing of the deck, where most of the snow had already melted. He must have decided to brave the nasty “fluffy water” because he is outside for about half an hour and came in via the front door after going out through the back door.
Me
This flu, or whatever it is, has still got me. Breathing is difficult to the point that I start wheezing when I carry Alex from one room to another. I am beginning to become aware of other physical and psychological maladies that I may address in a future post.
Today I received late birthday cards from my grandchildren and #1 son:
I am blessed!
A
s I believe I previously wrote, my mother is out of hospital and back in the rehab center. Unfortunately, the flu has hit the rehab center and all of the residents are basically restricted to their rooms: no trips to rehab, no common dining, etc. Yesterday Mom’s feet and upper arms were swelling, which evidently concerned her physician, who considered returning her to hospital. However, Mom told me this afternoon that the swelling was receding and she was feeling much better.Alex
The cold weather, outside and inside, has been getting to Alex. He
has spent the past few nights not only snuggling against my body, but also completely beneath the covers. Still, the cat who owns me evidently came down with cabin fever. Today he demanded to go outside three times. The first two attempts led to him backing back into the house when he encountered the snow. However, the third time he leaped from the threshold onto the railing of the deck, where most of the snow had already melted. He must have decided to brave the nasty “fluffy water” because he is outside for about half an hour and came in via the front door after going out through the back door.Me
This flu, or whatever it is, has still got me. Breathing is difficult to the point that I start wheezing when I carry Alex from one room to another. I am beginning to become aware of other physical and psychological maladies that I may address in a future post.Today I received late birthday cards from my grandchildren and #1 son:
I am blessed!
oh dear. wheezing suggests the possibility of pneumonia. been there, done that, not fun.
ReplyDeleteon a lighter note, i've picked out a t-shirt for alex. he can see it in the comments on my year of the pig post.
Nick, that picture of your mum is too cute!
ReplyDeleteI hope you are feeling better soon.
xxx
Nick, I'm glad your mother has not caught the flu. I hope you feel much better very soon. Hugs, Nick!
ReplyDeleteI hope you mum stays well and doesn't get the flu.
ReplyDeletePoor Alex. I'm not sure what Oscar would be like in snow.
Belated birthday greetings. Look after yourself, Nick, we don't need you in hospital.
Take care...
surrounding mom with a pink wellness bubble.
ReplyDeletenow as for you Nick...I know how illness brings out all the other toxins...I'm going through something similar.
i don't suggest sublimating whatever is coming up and out...let it go...but also take some comforts where you can my friend.
Happy Chinese New Year - year of the pig - a year of startling changes. Embrace them!
xx
pinks
Thanks for letting us know what's happening with your family. I hope your mom avoids the flu and that you shake it.
ReplyDeletePlease please PLEASE keep an eye on your breathing dear man. Report any changes immediately. My goodness you look so much like the chaplain who gave my Daddy last rites that its chilling! Your cards are wonderful. You are indeed blessed. Take good care of your ma too.
ReplyDeleteOBFUSCATI: Yes, I understand about pneumonia too well! I have been hospitalized with pneumonia 3 times (once for 9 days), once for bronchitis, and, most recently, for smoke inhalation which was amplified because I have emphysema. I also suffer from sleep apnea, which is also a breathing disorder. Breathing problems are one of my greatest concern in living alone.
ReplyDeleteJD'S ROSE: I have no idea why Mom was frowning in that photo-except, perhaps, because she is German and my experience tells me that Germans frown most of the time.
LYNN: I truly hope Mom avoids the flu: at 84 the flu can be devastating.
PUSS-IN-BOOTS: Alex and I watched a nature film not long ago that featured a mountain lion prowling through the snow. I wonder if, by suddenly deciding he will brave the fluffy white water, Alex is pretending to be a mountain lion. Of course, it may just be that he has cabin fever.
REVEREND SUMANGALI TANIA PINK: I understand that the Year of the Pig comes only about once in a lifetime and brings prosperity. I am hopeful.
ANGUS XVII: You are welcome, my friend.
JEANNIEGRRL: I am doing my best to take care of myself, even though I have never learned that skill very well. I have been told many times that I look like someone else; the only "twin" I have ever encountered in the flesh was a Catholic priest in southern Indiana. We used to joke about exchanging places during Sunday worship and whether our respective congregations would know the difference.
Tis the time of year for bugs huh? I really hope your mum and the other residents avoid the flu ..
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope you manage to give the remnants of your flu the heave-ho too...
I can sympathize somewhat with breathing problems.. I have asthma.. always have, but the cold air is not helping right now.. roll on spring!
PEANUT: My mother finds it hard to believe that I have the flu because I had a flu shot! She has what I think in an unrealistic faith in the pharmaceutical industry.
ReplyDeleteNo, breathing problems aren't fun. I first developed them when I was 15 and working with my Uncle Otto in his sheet metal business. Somehow breath the soldering flux gave me bronchitis and I have had various breathing maladies ever since. So I empathize with your having asthma, from which my #1 son also suffers.
I know you aren't feeling well Nick, I'm so sorry to hear it. The flu that is going around here seems to cause a bit of depression with it along with the other symptoms. Is it possible that is what you are feeling psychologically?
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteSo good to hear that your mom is doing well again...when they get that age, so many ailments can suddenly crop up. My mom is 75 and I thank God that she's still very healthy!! I do hope you start to feel better soon...doesn't sound good that you're getting out of breath and wheezing so quickly!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that your mom is okay, but I do hope you're taking care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteLAURIE: Thank you. Of course, I have inherited depression and have been dealing with it since my early 20s. The present medication just doesn't work. Tonight I talked with a friend, a professor of nursing at a local college, and begged her assistance. I still, hold onto faith and hope, but the emptiness within me becomes a greater void each day.
ReplyDeleteABBY: Thank you.
PEA: Thank you. Mom varies from day to day. Even on good days she complains. My prayer is that she will avoid the flu. Even as I typed that last line, I have to stop to cough up the congestion in my lungs. The flu such ain't nice!
SQUIRL: Thank you. At 61 one would think I had learned self-care, wouldn't one! But, I haven't. I find it much more to my liking to care for others.
I'll keep your mom in my prayers. I too hope that you are feeling better soon.
ReplyDeleteHi Nick ~~ Glad your Mother is going
ReplyDeleteOK and hope she stays well. I hope you can soon shake off the flu or whatever. Also hope Alex settles down, guess he is picking up how you are feeling. I like the new photo on your blog. The Amazing Grace post was interesting - it is a great song.
Thanks for your comments and glad you enjoyed Dancing with God. I will never look at the word Guidance again
without thinking of that post.
Please take care, Regards, Merle.
Oh dear, the only thing worse than a Winter cold is a Summer cold!
ReplyDeletePlease take care of yourself, i hope your mum gets well very quickly :o)
Stay Warm and stay out of the fluffy water ;o)
I saw your link on Robyns blog and your comment made me laugh. So I am here now to see who you are, especially because you are owned by a cat. I am owned by 4 ! and here is the question. For this special reason would you be interested to join "Cats on Tuesday" ? It's a "game" (although I don't like this word) for people who have cats (or are owned by cats), and want to write once a week about their cats. The stories and pictures which come out every tuesday are really very nice. Just look on my cat blog. I had this idea 2 month ago, because not everybody has a cat blog, but likes to write about their cat from time to time. So the group is quite new.
ReplyDeletehttp://gattinamycats.blogspot.com/