The Rest of January

On one hand we don't seem to be able to do that much because James is not very mobile yet. On the other hand we are very busy with a lot of things, some very unexpected. Some good ... and some not so good.

Monday January 15 we were surprised with snow. It wasn't much though. Not enough to make snow cream. Unfortunately because I like it very much and you can even put most of it in the freezer to enjoy later. It tastes exactly the same as it was when you made it.

 

Not much snow but some streets were quite hazardous which meant schools/meetings etc were either cancelled or delayed. We were sorry that we could not help with our grandsons. 

Instead we took it very leasurely breakfast with soft-boiled eggs and toast with marmalade. 

During our breakfast we could see a squirrel have its. We let it feast for just a little while.

We could admire the flowers on our camelia from the livingroom window.

After Christmas we had a lot of reports on TV what to do with your Christmas tree if it is a “real” one, not artificial. 

On Wednesday I heard this story in the news: give it to somebody who has goats. It said that the trees give goats lots of fiber and vitamins they would not get elsewhere … like antioxidants and vitamin C … and because goats eat everything it is also a natural dewormer for the goats.  A win win!  I liked it and researched it to include it in one of our letters to William.

On Saturday we were scheduled to help at the church to make sandwiches for shelters with people who need help. We really like participating in that. Besides doing something good for others we are also having time with some of our friends. I had left James for the first time home by himself. He is really getting around quite well and insisted that it was not a problem. 

While there someone gave me the following photo she had found inbetween some church stuff. William and Caleb at a pancake supper at church on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday but I don't know which year. Isn't it a great photo?

Monday the 22nd James had his 3rd MOHS surgery. It had been scheduled last fall which seemed to us as a long time. Dr. Rausch was sure it wouldn't be like the aweful 1st one but it was a little bit larger than she had expected. Nevertheless, we had been quite nervous about it with everything else going on. Levelheaded Christa must have experienced some stress because on the weekend before I ended up in the emergency room with a sky-high blood pressure. The surgery went well and both of our blood pressures are by now under control. 

The first few weeks after James came home from the hospital after his accident he had "home care". A nurse and a physical therapist named Michelle, who was wonderful, came to our house. It was extremely helpful. But by now he was scheduled for outpatient physical therapy. This meant that after his sessions we also could take care of some shopping. Ha-ha, we favor shops with electric cards. It is most helpful.

Oh, and I should not forget to talk about the yoyo weather. Just last Friday it was so lovely warm that James sat for a while on the back patio. I wore sandals that day.

Not sure whether this yoyo weather is hurting our plants: one day very very cold, the next sunny and warmish. The daffodils don't seem to care. 

Ha-ha, last but not least ... I had to learn how to put tennis balls onto James' walker. It is not as easy as you think. I consulted "Dr. Google". Good thing the package had three balls in it. The recommended x was not so good as just a slit. Much better. 

Btw, to mount tennis balls was recommended by James' PT. She was sure it would help him.

And for those who love our church newsletter, here is the link to The February Cloak. This one was not made by me. I was so happy that Ashley volunteered to help. So lucky that she also has an apple Mac which made it so much easier. She came one day and was very eager to see how I do it. We figured out how to send the gigantic files forth and back and solved several other things. She just took it from there. It was a huge relief to me that I did not have to worry about it this month.

With all what has happened these past 7+ weeks we are happy and grateful to the Lord. So many good and nice health care people and so many nice and helpful friends. We feel blessed.