Cancelling

I am still not feeling well. I am not sleeping more than a few hours due to congestion and coughing. (TMI???)  I am still taking my antibiotics and using inhalers along with a decongestant. It's keeping some of the crap at bay... but I still am hacking up crud.

We are suppose to go to my friend Miss Jane's for Easter dinner. She has been following my progress on feeling better on Facebook. She left me a voicemail tonite to call her... and to not feel obligated to come on Sunday. She's also afraid that I could pass this on to her mother-in-law or her father, both of whom are quite elderly. I totally understand that issue and wouldn't want to pass this on to anyone.

DH and I discussed it briefly before he went to work today. We didn't come to any conclusion but now I have confirmation that I should cancel this visit. I need to plan on what we will have for our own Easter dinner... likely a ham and a potato casserole that won't be taxing on me. It's also a matter of still having enough air in my lungs. I went out with Punky tonite and made it to the top of the drive way. I came in and climbed the stairs and got winded... but I only had to rest a little bit and my coughing was as head splitting as it has been. So, there is a little improvement.

Tomorrow begins a 4 day weekend for DH... and some much needed time off for him. We are planning on doing some catch-up chores and laundry. (There's always laundry!)

Thanks for reading.
~Suzanne

Still Here!

I am still here... wrapped up in my favorite blanket on the sofa. I did go to the doctor... well, actually I saw the PA. He gave me stronger anti-biotics instead of a trip to the hospital. I am still doing all my other breathing treatments and get some relief. But if I over-exert myself at all... I end up sounding like a sea lion as I cough and hack. Once that is under control, I still have the peacock sounds of wheezing and feel the pressure of trying to breathe.

Yesterday we had a heating oil delivery. The driver needed help with the doors so I was required to get down stairs to get him inside the garage. It was cold, snowing and windy. Between the activity of the stairs and getting the door open and the weather... I thought I was a goner! I made it inside to the staircase and sat on the 2nd step to try and catch my breath. I sat there until the delivery driver was done and he brought our receipt. He looked at me and asked if I needed medical assistance... he was concerned. I told him I would be ok in a minute or two. He asked again if he needed to get me some help... poor guy. I told him I would be ok and to have a nice day. I made it upstairs and took a hit on my rescue inhaler and rested. I felt that exertion in my chest the rest of the day.

I can't seem to stay in bed all night... I end up going back to the sofa to sit up for sleep. Getting good rest is important to getting better. I hope I can get some good rest soon.

Oh. Happy News too! DH has a lovely 4 day weekend coming up! He has Good Friday and Easter as paid holidays this year. We are grateful for needed time off. He needs rest and I also need some help with the basics of housework right now.

Thanks for reading! Have a blessed day!
~Suzanne

A Slight Case.

Because it was Memorial Day on Monday... we just had to grill out. I had picked up some nice NY strips on Friday and they had been "aging" nicely in the bottom of the fridge. We seasoned them with some good Himalayan Sea Salt and fresh cracked pepper. I got the grill good and hot and threw them on. They were perfect in 9 minutes!

We decided to eat upstairs in the kitchen... and I fixed all the leftovers from Sunday's BBQ. It was a good meal... and I could not eat all my steak. DH also left a little of his steak for Nolli dog. There was a good bit of steak left over... about 3 1/2 ounces. So.. Nolli always expects to have a little bit of steak, and he's used to getting it. Pumpkin on the other hand... is not used to "people food" and we rarely give it to her. I've been giving her the tiniest of bites when there is left over steak or pork or burgers. She's done ok so far. (You can tell where this is headed, right?)

So... I gave Nolli a nice portion of steak bits on his kibble... and I also gave Punky some steak in her bowl. I was justly rewarded by Punky yesterday. We were at the flower shop... and she started to get sick. I swooped her up and had her out the front door as fast as my knee and back would allow. She got sick... and then I took her over to the grass in our yard... and she proceeded to show me again that she cannot tolerate more than just a taste of anything not dog related. She had a slight case of pancreantitis. She still managed to eat her dinner when DH got home and feed the dogs. Nolli is just fine, of course. He's pretty durable and used to being spoiled with steak bits. I kept a good eye on Punky during the evening and she seemed okay. Today, she's going to the groomer to get bathed and trimmed. I'm taking Nolli to get his nails done. (Altho, he could use a bath too.)

On the "back" issue... I am starting to feel better as long as I don't over do it. I will probably feel those spasms later on because DH forgot to take the trash to the street today and I ended up having to lift up the garage door to get the can out. I plan on not doing all that much today... the house is still in good order, dinner is done and in the fridge for later... so I will take Punky and Nolli up to the groomer at noon and just hang out this afternoon. (I do have the desire to go up to my favorite greenhouse... but I said I was done buying flowers!)

There you have it... it's what's new and exciting in my life! Oh... I didn't tell you that I've been on the screaming baby radar lately. Everywhere I go lately... there is a screaming baby somewhere nearby. The latest was last night... we had gone to Olive Garden for our anniversary. Seated at the next table over was an older man, a very young girl and a baby that was 10 months old. At first we didn't notice them... and then as their food came out, the baby started screaming... first it was more of a holler. Kind of finding her voice. Then it changed to a demand scream and she kept it up. Several of the wait staff did what they could to distract her and quiet her down, to no avail. By the end of the evening after they left, I was so glad to not hear the shriek that would almost make me wince when it went off... and dessert saved the evening... white chocolate raspberry cheesecake!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

A few Miscellanous Things...

In my last post... we were heading out the door to do things like a.) laundry and b.) grocery shopping. We did neither of those things. We, in fact, did other stuff...
We took Mr. Cannoli to get his nails done... as they were quite long. I was expecting him to come out without his "Grinch Toes"... but they are still intact!

Then, since DH had done an oil change and full inspection on my car last weekend... we decided that he needed to go to the dealership and discuss his findings about a seal that is bulging and has a slight seepage. The car is still under warranty and if it needs attention, it should be done now! So... Miss Barbie, the Malibu will be going into the shop on Tuesday.

I did also go over to the flower shop... the girls were neck deep in orders. There were tons of arranged roses all over the place. It was lovely. I stayed over there until 7pm. I had DH bring them pepperoni rolls to tide them over until they were done with orders for Saturday morning. I wasn't feeling well... again! My hand was hurting, as was my elbow, of all things.

When I got home, I had DH look at my arm... I had some kind of a raised red welt... it looks like a reaction to a bite of some type... or a reaction to the lidocaine in the burn gel I am using. Needless to say... he doctored me up and I took more Benadryl... and then drifted off to "La-La Land".

Today... I still needed Benadryl... and my arm is swollen and achy. I did manage to get to the flower shop to check on the girls... they had done a very good job with all the sales they had. They had pizza delivered and were looking forward to going home to sit down and relax. DH came in while I was there.... I had not taken my phone with me and he wanted to check on me since it had been a little over an hour.

He spied a beautiful tulip vase... filled with tulips, stock and caspia and mini white roses... that came home with us as my Valentines Day gift. (He is wonderful... and I adore him!)

Tonight, he cooked dinner... spaghetti (with my sauce from the freezer) and garlic bread. We are feeling happy and blessed and well loved!

The rest of the chores that were mentioned in the beginning... those will be taken care of tomorrow!

That's all there is for now! Thanks for reading! Be blessed!

~Suzanne

Oh... that's why!

My last post was a bit of downer.... and now I understand part of why I feel so bad. I am officially a "couch camper" with the flu! (I guess I was waiting to have a couch, so I could have a place to feel sick without disturbing my DH during the night.) I havn't had flu like this in a long time! But then you really didn't need to know that, right?

Now that he's gone off to work... Nolli and I are going to go back to bed and I am going to rest. Nolli would make a great nurse if he could bring me something to drink or fluff my pillows. He's such a cuddle bug anyway... but when you're sick, his instincts kick in and he's stuck to me like glue! Here's to hoping I feel better so I can enjoy some of the warm weather we are suppose to have this weekend!

Thanks for reading... be blessed! (Keep those prayers a 'coming!)

~Suzanne

Sweet Sunday Love...

It's been a sweet morning here at Sugarloaf Cottage. With all the work we did yesterday in the damp garage... I woke up sick. I have another yucky, wracking cough because I didn't wear a mask while I was in there. (I am very allergic to mold and mildew.... I will spare you anymore details!)

My Sweet DH knew that I struggled for sleep last night... so again, he let me sleep. It also meant that we missed church again. (Sorry, Lord.) DH made me breakfast and brought me juice and he walked the dog. How lucky am I? When I think of gifts for this holiday season... I cannot think of a thing that anyone could get me... I have all I could ever want with this sweet wonderful man who wants to take care of me. So... that's what will go under our tree this year. Nothing but love. Sounds a bit like Pollyanna... but it's true, I don't want anything this year. God has blessed us... and we are grateful.

That reminds me of my favorite prayer ~ The Prayer of Jabez. It's found in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. It's a simple 4 line prayer that has been very meaningful to me. It reads as this: "Oh that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain." And God granted his request.
I have prayed this prayer daily in the last 3 years, and it is amazing to see the blessings that God has poured out upon me and now upon DH. God does love to bless us all... and he loves it even more when we ask him to bless us. I am so grateful for the riches of His Kingdom and all that he has blessed me with.

Thanks for reading... BE BLESSED on this Sweet Sunday!
~Warm Hugs and sunday Love,
~Suzanne

Soooo Cold!

I am still fighting off the nasty little sore throat and cold bug. The temps today don't help it any. It was 15 degrees at noon today. I took my own temp to see what was going on.... and I had a sub-temp of 97.1. Yep... that means I've got some good crud going on. Way back in high school, when I would get sick with a sore throat and strep... or when I had mono, I would have a sub-temperature. I've been drinking as much as I can... but it's not easy. Glands are slightly enlarged and tender... but we will see if it cycles on it's own or if I will need to take antibiotics.

Hubs had local work today... and was ahead on his counts and go to come home about 45 minutes early. That was nice, but he also didn't eat lunch today... which meant he was starving. So, I climbed outta bed and thru something from the freezer into the oven, made instant mashed potatoes (which I doctored up pretty good - bacon bits, sour cream, cheese and diced red onion) made some homemade ranch dressing and had DH cut up some fresh broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and celery. That was as close to a dinner that he was going to get from me. It wasn't too bad.

DH has to go back out to work tonite... traveling about 40 minutes north and the job will take about 3 1/2 hours minimum. Tis the holiday season, and the big two delivery companies need their belt systems to run properly so that everyone can get their packages on time. Yep... that's what my husband does... he keeps it all working so that Big Brown and FE air, ground, and hd can get it all loaded on the truck.

I'm headed back to bed... I may get me some ice cream a little later on... and check to see if anything is happening out there! Leave me some comments, 'kay?

Thanks for reading, and be blessed!
~Suzanne