Snowflake & Dog Step

Hubby woke up early to make a dog step for Isabelle so she can get into bed easier. Also made snowflake for KRN. Just have to paint it now.

Yardstick Snowflake

Then I went with him to Rathdrum to get parts, get dog cheeseburgers, make deposit at bank, pick up pizza for guys at shop, and get gas. Purchased lottery megamillions tickets. Cross my fingers we win for New Years!

Returned home where I rested for the balance of the day. Real tired at 9:30 and went to bed.

So Tired

Sunday -
Christmas. Opened our presents. Watched Christmas shows. Vegged out. Took a nap. Depressing this year. Did not feel like doing ANYTHING!

christmas presents under tree

Monday -
Kelsey came over around 10:00 with Bravo. She opened her presents. Then she was hungry. So we took her into town to eat at Las Chavelas. It was good. Afterwards she decided she had to get dog food at Costco. I got a new camera for half price! 


Then home. I was exhausted. But Matt was waiting here with his truck and we had him open his presents.

 Matt & presents

The kids left not too long afterwards. I watched a couple shows & dragged myself to bed. Still recovering from my illness.


Tuesday -
You really can't believe how exhausted you can get by being sick. I am almost through with all my meds, but am tired. Going to bed at 8:00 everynight. Sleeping until about 7:00 the next day. Still not enough. Going to take a while before I feel back to normal...

Hubby forced me to go up to Bonners Ferry so that he could purchase a truck from a nice Canadian gentleman. Before we went up there, we stopped at the Bakery to say hello to Gwen & Louise. Then got hubby a latte. The lights flickered while we were at the espresso stand, but came back on.

When we returned thru Sandpoint, we stopped at Big R to get deer food. Took Bud inside with us. He got lots of hugs & scratches from people. Then stopped at Arby's to get roast beef for the puppy dogs at home.

As we came up our highway, we noticed the road was blocked.

Highway blocked by Avista crews

The power pole fell down right across from our driveway....

because...a kid had t-boned his car into it this morning (that was why the lights flickered!) He was going an excessive amount of speed (the guys who were standing outside our shop estimated 70mph!) and fishtailed in the slush. So once the authorities were called, the guys towed the car onto our property temporarily. Mom and Dad came to pick up the kid who had two black eyes (probably concussion).

 car destroyed sitting in our driveway

Happy Christmas Eve

Hubby had to drag me with him to pick up a part in Spokane. He did not want to leave me along. I am feeling somewhat better. Still a lot of pain, tho.

Afraid to eat anything. Trying to drink water.

Stopped to give Leo & Ritchie their presents.

Gave Heather at espresso stand a Xmas card & tip. Came back thru Rathdrum and shopped at Super One. Picked up hubby's fruit cake at Bakery in town. The ladies made him a custom miniature cherry pie!

 Custom Cherry Pie

Got gasoline & newspapers to wrap presents. Also stopped to get another xmas latte for hubby. 

Came home exhausted. Slept.

Back to Dr

Thursday - Last night suffered from 4 hours of heartburn & indigestion. I am frightened to eat anything now!

So hubby forced me to go into the Dr again and I was prescribed heartburn meds. We stopped at grocery store to waste some time. Got cheeseburgers for dogs, then came home. Already 1:00! Wasted the day again.

 Pedestals for dryer/washer

Christmas Time

Listening to Christmas music, making stuff for Christmas on the Silhouette Cameo. Hubby briefly went down to the shop, and he is making Christmas crafts for gifts.

Still have to deliver some things, but most stuff is taken care of in time for Christmas.

There is one package that is stuck in Spokane, WA. Need to find out why.

I am feeling somewhat better, but very weak! LOL.

Hubby picked up Christmas cookies from bakery in CDA.

crazy christmas cookies

SICK, HOSPITAL ER

It remains pretty much a blur...

But from Thursday (Wednesday?) I awoke and experienced HORRIFIC pain in the abdomen. Hubby went to work and said that if I got worse, he would come home to take me to the doctor. He LIED. I called him at 2:00 and he didn't get home until 6:00pm.

He rushed me to the Urgent Care in CDA and the doctor advised that a normal white blood count is 4300; mine was over 13000! I had an infection. They told us to go to the ER across the street immediately. The nurse was unable to take blood; had to call for backup- PLEASE LEARN THIS IN SCHOOL, NOT ON PATIENTS!

Of course, they didn't forward any paperwork to the ER. Duh. So we still had to wait, and wait, and wait. Then got in to the ER, processed, and evaluated. I don't remember much as I was in a lot of pain. Finally got an IV from a knowledgeable nurse (whose husband happened to work in the same company as mine! LOL) with painkillers.

Then off to the CT Scan; injecting icky stuff into my veins.

Back to my room to wait the results of the scan. Doctor said DIVERTICULITIS. Lots of painkillers prescribed along with massive amounts of antibiotics. Said surgery not needed if we can control it with antibiotics.

Said to come back in a couple days (Saturday night).

I was so weak, I fell asleep for the following days...sleep; eat applesauce, take pills. Lost 10 pounds.

Woke up a little better one day and then awful horrible horrific pain and told hubby to call 9-1-1. By the time the ambulance got here (they passed our place the first time-quite lost) I had thrown up and felt better.

Went into our regular personal doctor at 2PM. He said stay away from milk products; which I had eaten cottage cheese. Now I am Lactose Intolerant! Ick. Do you KNOW how many foods have whey or milk in them?

Sick

Thursday - After suffering all day, hubby took me to Urgent Care. Doctor admitted me to ER. Cat Scan indicated Diverticulitis. I had severe pain in the abdomen.

Dr Appt

Tuesday - Hubby had to get up at 3AM to answer an emergency on-call. Phone wires down on ground in town. So I had to get up to make him a drink and breakfast.

I went back to sleep for a while, but dogs would not let me rest. They kept getting up every 30 minutes to bark at something.

So I was exhausted and drained for the balance of the day. Took Bud along with me into town for my 2:30 Dr's. appt. Stupid little out of control 1 year old in the waiting room area with grandma. The meth mother came out later and announced loudly everything that the doctor had discussed privately. Stupid people out there in this world.

After 30 minutes of filling out paperwork and another 30 minute wait, I was finally led back to the exam room. According to the doctor, there is nothing wrong with me. No reason that I should be having pain. So she was quick to prescribe pills instead of finding what is exactly wrong. I also believe she was somewhat abrupt & uncaring. Didn't pursue some of the questions that were on my file; why not spend a little longer LOOKING at me instead of her computer?

Got Wendy's cheeseburgers for dogs on the way home. Listened to Christmas music.

Dogs were happy to see me when I returned home.

Wednesday - Dogs decided to bark at everything again last night. Isabelle got up at 3am and piddled around outside for over 35 minutes. I finally had to put on a coat to go out to get her! Fell back asleep for one hour, then Bud & Harriet wanted to go out. Barely time to get up and make hubby's drink.

Took Bud to vet at 11:30 because he had a severe red rash on his belly. Then raced home to meet the delivery truck for the guys that brought our Washer/Dryer Pedestals from Home Depot.

Lil Bit in holiday sweater

Made Protein Bites for hubby's friend Brad at work. Brad LOVES my balls! LOL.

Cleaning House & Making Xmas Crafts

Cleaned the house today. Washed dog beds. Vacuumed & Mopped the floors.

Made more Christmas crafts.

Stars

 Mugs

Took Christmas candy down to the shop for the guys.

Ordered more Christmas gifts online.

Gave REI gift certificate to our UPS driver. He is a great guy.

Xmas Shopping & Harriet's Birthday

Went into town to pick up the Dodge that hubby had locked in the yard at work. But he forgot the keys to the yard! They were still locked in the shop at home. So we walked Bud, Bit, and Harriet in a nearby field. Very cold outside. Only 26 degrees. Brrrr.

Drove back home and left Bit & Harriet at home while we went into town Xmas shopping. Stopped at Costco, Home Depot & Super One in Rathdrum. Then went home.

Saw turkeys in the road on Diagonal.

Turkeys

Had birthday party for Harriet when we got home. All the dogs got hamburgers that we picked up at McDonalds.

 Birthday Cake

 Harriet (5 years old)

Hubby took a nap. I went to bed early.

Blogging & Baking

Hubby actually blogged last night on RMOR without any prodding from me!

On Saturday I made Christmas goodies. Peanut Brittle, Cashew Brittle, No Bake Cookies, No Bake Protein Bites, Peppermint Bark, Cereal Bars & Puppy Chow (for KRN; her favorite!)

 Braided Spaghetti Bread

KRN came over with Beebo about 11:00; I babysat until they returned at 6:00. KRN had to go to a birthday party for her friend's daughter. Matt was going to visit with his dad.

More Christmas Decor & Crafts

Thursday

Busy making more Christmas crafts. Also hung star & more lights outside.

Need to start making cookies, candies & holiday food.

Gave a gift certificate to mailman & mailed the Christmas cards.

Still need to get a few gift certificates for others.

Friday

Went to get nails done at 11:00. Stopped to pick up burgers at McDonalds for dogs
afterwards.

The Story Thus Far

Sunday - Drove over to K&M's to return Beebo who had stayed overnight with us while the kids went to dinner in CDA. We took Harriet, Bit & Bud with us for a change. Harriet did very well in the car.

Hubby had to pay his NAPA bill and I took over driving after that. He seemed quite upset at other drivers for some reason today, so it seemed best for me to get behind the wheel.

We briefly shopped at Big R on Trent to get more deer food, new harness for Harriet & let hubby browse. He loves his Big R! There is a new one in CDA we found when we returned home later tonight...

Got to kids' home at 12:00; helped them put up lights. Lots of strings were dead. Matt stapled thru one light string. He had to get up on the roof to put up lights. All very pretty when we were done. Hubby and I ran to WalMart for garlic bread (insane parking lot - also saw accident in parking lot) Got Starbucks lattes gross tasting. (cuz KRN refuses to get espresso machine for home) For lunch we had crock-pot Lasagne that KRN had made. Was very good.

We left not long after because it was already 3:30.

Drove to CDA for gasoline at Costco. Picked up burgers for dogs. Angus & Isabelle had done very well. Missed us.

My Perfect Angels

Monday - Bit decided that he was going to spend most of the day on his back. Got a picture of him.

Lil Bit with belly exposed! So adorable.

I had ordered new Sorels because I realized my other ones were about 20 years old! The new ones came via UPS today. Very warm.

 New Sorels

Ordered lots and lots of presents (some presents) online for Cyber Monday.


Tuesday - Had diarrhea all night from 3AM onwards. Felt very weak. Had gone to bed early and got even worse as the day wore on. I was supposed to go to Dr. Specialist, but had to call to reschedule. Just not enough strength to drive there.

Wednesday - Went up to Sandpoint to shop at Big R. We did not get there in time; they close at 7pm. Went over to Walmart to get a few things. Stopped at Arby's for dog burgers & returned home with Bud & Isabelle. Isabelle barked at a dog in the back of a pickup during a stoplight and frightened the poor black Lab. We explained to Isabelle that she must be nice to other dogs. She didn't want to listen...

When we returned from shopping, the refrigerator had quit working. Our food was going bad. We put it out on the deck in the cold (thank goodness for winter). I had suffered endo pains, so took a hot bath & went to bed early.

Thursday - The Fred's Appliance repair man came out to the house. Thinks that the Thermostat needs replacing in the refrigerator. I called after he left to schedule. The parts won't be here until Monday night so he will be coming Tuesday morning.

I completely cleaned out the fridge (will have hubby pull it out of the wall this weekend to clean behind it) & restocked it from the food that we had put outside on the deck in coolers. It is much cleaner & has more available space. We will now be able to find things better. Hubby had 6 jars of pickled things and I was able to condense them to 3; then put them in the smaller refrigerator downstairs. Also condensed 3 ketchup bottles into 1 and 2 mustard bottles into 1!

Clean Fridge

I made Cake Truffles from a recipe on the 'Net I found. Chef in Training However, they taste AWFUL to me. I will give them away to Bruce. He likes extremely sweet things.

 Cake Truffles

Harriet is filling out quite well with all the eggnog she has been drinking. I am also filling her with lots of meat & protein. She has a "solid" look to her lean body now.

 

Harry in winter sweater!

This past week without #3 around, I have been having to decorate on my own. It is quite an immense chore. Put the stereo outside in order to get into the Christmas mood. Blasting Xmas tunes away while putting up new lights & taking down ones that quit working.

Balls on deck

Friday - Lil Bit keeps barking at something outside & the other dogs have to go out to investigate. They have NOT taken their early morning, mid-morning, or morning naps yet!

It is getting sunnier & warmer all the time. Temp is up to 36.

I worked on more Christmas light balls, decorating inside of house with cloth tied garlands, made No Bake Protein balls, fed deer, worked on KRN's Advent calendar, washed dog bedding, got mail with Bud, rewrapped tomato cage light tree.