December chitchat

[SuzE-Q]

Hi, Rose, I still feel like I'm being uber careful with covid still around. I am slowly venturing out, but really not more than necessities and never without a mask. I hate wearing a mask, I find it very suffocating, so I am just not going out much. I am inspired to grow more food myself, the pandemic definitely made me think how I want to rely less on grocery stores. But, I'm good, thank you. I hope you've been well. I miss reading about ANN's garden. I may need some tips next growing season from ANN and Lazarus.

I am so sorry, Virginia. I had a very bad fall a couple months ago, I think I might have cracked some ribs. I spoke to my doctor about it a while afterwards (didn't get checked out), he reminded me how falls are one of the leading causes of injury the older we get.

It isn't MS, it's happening to everyone as we age. It even happened to the indestructible Howie. We are probably even more at risk.

It's time to go through your place with a critical eye to fall-proof it. Or at least make it safer. Go through some scenarios in your mind as you walk through, look at different locations and imagine yourself falling there. Ask yourself how you'd get yourself out of it. You may need a discreet footstool or ropes or other devices here or there that can help get you upright. Our arms still have some strength. Go through youtube videos that show how to get up after a fall, I know I saved some awhile ago. Ensure you don't have unnecessary risks just waiting for you to fall off of them.

Virginia, you are a warrior. You can get yourself around many hours of shopping far better than I can and still carry in a dozen bags of groceries. Look how strong your arms are. You need tools to maximize your upper body strength to help you get up again.

I'm glad you brought it up, there is a shroud of secrecy around falls which then surprises everyone else when it happens to them. No one is talking about it. But, how important is it to normalize it so that we can all prepare our environment? I am glad you called for help. The rescue personnel appreciate these calls because they know how important a service it is and it breaks up their stressful day with a nonemergency visit that is refreshingly upbeat and friendly with no critical decisions to be made. They enjoy meeting people they can help and perform a valuable service for. A short visit and easy to please. It is good PR for them and a break in their otherwise stressful jobs. Maybe send over some holiday cookies to express your appreciation, you'll forever be known as "that nice lady who brought us cookies".

Preparation is very important to reduce our risks, we all need to take a walk around our places and start preparing!

[Snuggles]

I am sorry to read that so many of us here are having problems. I hope everyone who is dealing with difficulties have some relief soon.

[stillstANNding]

For Ikoiko and SuzE-Q:

We ate the last fresh tomatoes from the garden on 12/4. These were tomatoes that I picked green and ripened in the house. I also froze tomatoes fresh, during the season, and will use them instead of canned tomatoes. And, I am still picking greens from the low tunnel - mustards, beet greens, arugula, chard, spinach, fennel leaf and parsle and rosemary. I plan to plant more fennel and parsley next year.

The weather this week may be the end of the arugula and spinach. I’ll open the tunnel on Saturday when it’s to be in the 60’s.

Thank you for your kind thoughts.

ANN

[SuzE-Q]

A really long growing season! I am looking forward to joining your ranks of growing some things next year, some greens, tomatoes, we'll see what else. Also, thank you for letting me know Walmart didn't increase pricing for delivery orders, I now make some mega orders of multiples from them for shelf stuff and stock up. Just helps to keep my own trips to the other stores or markets to fresh groceries. It helps when I find mask wearing so cumbersome. Hopefully next year will be even better if I'm growing some of my own produce. I wish other stores did not increase their delivery food prices, but I will grudgingly use Walmart delivery until there are more that don't price gouge. Not a fan of Walmart food, but it's filling a need for now. Thank you!

[stillstANNding]

Virginia, I hope you are recovering.
Love and chocolate or maybe some tea,
ANN

[Ikoiko]

Fresh vegetables sound nice.

[stillstANNding]

Clipped from the now deleted thread:

I’m alive, Peter is alive. MIL is in rehab but coming home on Monday with 24 hour care to start. We can not go to my mother at Christmas as we are needed here now. It’s a very stressful time. The professional staff at the rehab has been mostly excellent but there have been at least three bad incidents with aides at night. They have taken away her call bell, told her she drinks to much ( when pushing fluids was prescribed) and more. Director of Nursing was not alarmed. Filling out “a grievance” is just a piece of paper to file. Also, understaffed. Did I mention stressful? For all of us.

I worry for anyone in a care facility without a family or who do not have the capacity to speak up (stroke, dementia). I worry for us all.

Thank you for caring. As I have said at least twice before, I have not left I am just not posting or reading much. Please don’t put a bulletin out on me again. Joan has my email. I answer her emails and so should you.

[SuzE-Q]

That's scary that there have been concerning events, especially taking away her call bell and that voicing your concerns did not prompt an investigation and/or correctve actions, especially when she must continue to deal with these same individuals. I can't imagine the worry, glad she's being released tomorrow. Please take some time for tea and chocolate, too.

[stillstANNding]

Thank you, Suz-EQ. Today I put finishing touches on MILs apartment. It has been a lot of work at her house plus the visits to rehab. I hope things will b better when she is home.

I did slip out this AM and pick some parsley, rosemary and thyme for veggie soup. This evening, after Peter went back to the rehab, I made the veggie soup. I was tired doing it but it’s very satisfying to have it finished.

ANN

[SuzE-Q]

Fresh herbs are delicious on everything. I'm sure MIL will feel so much better when she is back home again and in her own surroundings, especially with the holidays coming up. Some fresh soup will be very homey and comforting for her, too.

[stillstANNding]

I’m sure Virginia is using all of her precious energy getting well. I’m thinking her brothers and her SIL will keep close tabs on her.

ANN

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

SuzE-Q ~

Like you, I have not wanted to venture out, which is annoying, because I have many things to accomplish requiring public contact. With the Omicron variant circulating now and COVID surging as expected after Thanksgiving, I am not going anywhere until I get my booster in January.

Have you tried different kinds of masks? You might find one with good protection and better breathability. I am holding onto my Biomasks, which I have had for a few years. Unfortunately, they are no longer being manufactured. They are the best masks I've ever worn, treated to repel germs, but breathable and comfortable to wear. I will wear them in public. At home, I wear a KN95 mask for John's visits and greeting Instacart shoppers. I wear a mask, when I take out the trash bins or get my mail, in case I fall and need John's help or paramedics. My neighbors are not very communicative (friendly), but just in case someone approaches me, I'm masked.

Good luck with your garden! I would love to have an accessible garden (no bending, stooping or kneeling), but I don't have a green thumb, and we have a drought.

Jim was a gardener, taught by his father, who grew prize winning veggies and fruit. One year, he planted corn, potatoes, garlic, onions, and peppers, as well as herbs. Our neighbor looked over the fence and laughed, mocking him and calling him "Farmer Jim." Jim smiled and replied, "Like that's a bad thing." Meanwhile, we had garden to table food, and our neighbor's didn't. They would have, because we would have shared if they had appreciated us for who we are.

ANN ~

Did your MIL return home today? I hope that all the services are in place for her in home care. Nourishing and comforting soup is healing.

I am worried about Virginia, as she has been ill for awhile and had another fall. Her brother thought she might have COVID, so I hope that she was tested. Early on, I worried about her getting pneumonia, and having been on the floor for nearly 2 hours could contribute to developing pneumonia, if you are already vulnerable. I am sure that her brothers and SIL are keeping an eye on her. I just wish they could contact someone here to let us know how Virginia is doing.

Prayers and healing, positive energy for all ~

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!


THANKS!

[SuzE-Q]

Thanks, Rose, I do better with a surgical mask, but I don't feel it is adequate protection so I double mask with an insert in the 2nd cloth mask. Alternatively, I wear an N95 if I am in any environment for longer than more than just a walk through.

I definitely don't have a green thumb, but we are organizing a community hydroponic experiment which will alleviate much of my individual burden of managing a small individual plot of my own. Seems others are thinking the same thing, so it will work out very well for me! I have growing admiration for the gardeners on here!

[Virginia]

This is Virginia's brother Eric. I'm here in the hospital with my other brother Fred and Virginia whom we call Sister. She has been in the hospital since Friday night and this is the first time she has felt like guiding me to this site. I can't begin to tell you just how sick sister has been and still is. It sounds like sister will be moved to a rehab facility as early as tomorrow, we can't believe they would move her so fast. I know she misses this forum and I will try to update you as she gets more strength. I'm not a forum type person so need her to help me get on the site. I will end by saying that sister came to the hospital with severe pneumonia, an UTI, high fever, I could probably think of more. Sister is still really really sick but inchin like turtle toward getting better. One last thing, there was a nurse that literally saved her life the first night in her room. I will let her tell you all about it when she can .

[SuzE-Q]

Virginia, thinking of you, healing wishes being sent your way! Brother Eric, thank you for posting. Brothers: please take very good care of Sister, she means a lot to us!

[agate]

This is Virginia's brother Eric. I'm here in the hospital with my other brother Fred and Virginia whom we call Sister. She has been in the hospital since Friday night and this is the first time she has felt like guiding me to this site. I can't begin to tell you just how sick sister has been and still is. It sounds like sister will be moved to a rehab facility as early as tomorrow, we can't believe they would move her so fast. I know she misses this forum and I will try to update you as she gets more strength. I'm not a forum type person so need her to help me get on the site. I will end by saying that sister came to the hospital with severe pneumonia, an UTI, high fever, I could probably think of more. Sister is still really really sick but inchin like turtle toward getting better. One last thing, there was a nurse that literally saved her life the first night in her room. I will let her tell you all about it when she can .

Thank you ever so much, Eric, for going to the trouble of finding your way here to let us know. People here have been very very concerned because she's been a faithful regular visitor here and such a good friend to all of us. I'm so grateful to that nurse who saved her life! Looking forward to her speedy recovery and return to us here as well. If you can read this, please send her my best wishes and let her know I've been thinking of her.

[stillstANNding]

Thank you, Fred and Eric. I thought you would keep your eyes on Virginia. Prayers for all of you and the sister- in - law who cooks.

Keep well,
ANN

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Eric ~

Thank you so very much for posting about Virginia. I had a nagging fear that she might be in the hospital with pneumonia. God bless the nurse, who saved Virginia's life, and you and Fred for staying by her side. You are as dear to Sister as she is to you.

Please don't hesitate to express your concerns to the attending physician about Virginia's discharge to rehab. Medicare has limits, which often push people out of the hospital too soon. If there is a possibility for Virginia to have in-home health care, that is worth pursuing.

Virginia ~ You are a strong and determined woman, a wonderful, supportive friend, and a treasure to us all. We surround you with our positive thoughts, healing energy, and prayers. I hope you can feel our love.

God Bless You Virginia!

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!


THANKS!

[Ikoiko]

Virginia, I hope you are on the way to getting better soon! You have had quite a time if it lately.

[stillstANNding]

Rose, MIL did come home yesterday right on time. She is doing well, thank you. The help is mixed. The evening aide is so bad we have told the agency not to send her again. The night one came late. And the day one is excellent! In nursing school.

We are so very tired but glad to have her home.
ANN