FOR TODAY (September 7, 2009)...

Outside my window... it's cool and cloudy. It's very quiet outside today.

I am thinking... of all the projects that need to be finished before the snow flies this year.

I am thankful for... a hard working and very talented husband, our cozy home, and our fur babies... and for good health insurance.

I am wearing... denim shorts and my old (very old) navy v-neck sweater... and of course I'm inside, so my feet are bare right now!

I am creating... my Christmas shopping list in my head... and also looking for a birthday gift or two...

I am going... to physical therapy this week, and also to the doctor this week.

I am reading... nothing... I just finished reading The Shack. A former co-worker has tried to "taint" my views on this book... but I won't be deterred... I liked it!

I am hoping... and praying continually that DH's bosses will be convicted to do the right thing.

I am hearing... DH working on projects down in the basement. He's fixed a broken chair seat, and now is fixing some wiring for a couple of things that we got garage sailing..

Around the house... it still needs to be picked up, dusted and vacuumed from the last couple of days. There is a roast in the fridge that will soon go into the oven for dinner. Yummmm!

One of my favorite things... is that DH likes to help me in the kitchen... he baked cookies for me last night and made breakfast this morning.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Doctors appointments for both of us... physical therapy for me... getting bills paid this week, getting tires on the car and car maintenance... and remembering to order contact lenses for me!

Thanks for reading... I hope you are having a wonderful Labor Day! Be blessed!

~Suzanne

Heart... Soul.... Love

I love the skit guys... and often view thier videos on You-tube. Today I came across this... not the skit guys... but it reminds me of what is most important. This touched my heart today and I am sharing it with you....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbIOdj529Uo

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Trying to Be Good...

My back issue is not going away quietly... everytime I think I get a handle on it... "Boom!" It reminds me that it's still there and controlling just about everything I do. You add my bum knees to the mix... and it's a pretty clear picture that looks like I am falling apart before our very eyes. I am trying to stay on task with my physical therapy and do my exercises. I forget sometimes!

The other day... DH came home from work... and he was not a happy camper. He uses a quite large air compressor in his daily duties. Before we got married, he went and bought a very nice, shiny blue one from a big box retailer. It had lots of bells and whistles with it... his buddy T. (who is now his supervisor) wanted the company to buy it for DH... (so that he could later pull it and put it in his truck...) DH decided that he wanted to buy it himself so that he could have what he needed in certain situations. Anyway... a few months back, it had issues, and we discovered that the warranty that it had was no longer any good because the manufacturer went out of business. (It's a good thing that he didn't buy the extended warranty... it would have been of no use.) Now... back to DH not being happy... his compressor died! Gave up the ghost... and he came home and took it apart to discover that a belt drive had shredded.

We ended up taking a drive to Pennsberg to Supervisor T's house and borrowing his air compressor. We had a nice drive... and went to a new little chinese buffett before heading back out of town. We had a lovely dinner and an enjoyable car ride. We were gone most of the evening... getting home at 9:30. We were quite tired and poor DH because of my knees and my back... has had to pick up most of the slack for me. I can't really lift, can't carry laundry down, shouldn't be leaning over to load and unload the dishwasher. I do what I can... until I hit the wall... and then DH has to continue on. I am so blessed to have such a great man.

Things with Punky and Nolli are progressing. He still feels a little jealous from time to time. She's a very exuberant personality... full of energy and quite willlful. He's so laid back and sweet... just needed a little love and interaction from time to time. While I was laying on the bed with my knee encased in ice last night... I had DH let her out of her cage... she was up on the bed with me for snuggle time. She jumped right off and went to get water... and I called to DH to let him know she was out and about... he came down the hall to get her, but not before she jumped back up on the bed... all by herself! She's tiny... and Nolli has trouble jumping up on the bed. But not her... she hops right up there like a pro! Who knew!!!!

This month is going to be interesting... I see the doctor next Friday... I don't know if he will send me to an orthopaedic surgeon or if I will have to see one on my own. I've been doing some research, it's scary and I don't know that I will be able to come home right away without having some help or going to a rehab facility. There's also the stair issue and the fact that most everything in this home is not handicapped accessible... like the bathtub... it's deep, and I have to use a step stool to even get in!

Also this month, we have to have the car inspected... and it needs new tires. (I am hoping that the brakes are still good.) It's also cooling down, so we will need to buy heating oil. We are hoping that we won't have to move... I would hate to have to buy oil and then move! There's a lot on the plate... and of course, as always... we do covet your prayers.

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Simple Woman's Daybook...

FOR TODAY (August 31. 2009)...

Outside my window... It's cloudy and cool, with a slight breeze.

I am thinking... of what a great weekend we had here... Friday, DH brought home Chipotle for dinner, Saturday, we stayed home all day and worked on small home projects. And Sunday, we went to church, bought a new tool for DH and had lunch at Cracker Barrel. It was a nice day.

I am thankful for... my hardworking husband and our little family. I am thankful for a cozy home and good friends.

From the kitchen... we are going to have pork chops and scalloped corn for dinner. Yum!

I am wearing... a black long sleeve cable v-neck sweater and denim shorts... bare foot as usual.

I am creating... yummy things to eat for dinner... and maybe dessert too!

I am going... to physical therapy tomorrow... glad to see progress on my disc issue.

I am reading... "The Shack"... and I love it!

I am hoping... that I will gain more mobility and be able to go back into the pool for my knee.

I am hearing... the breeze in the trees and few birds too. We've kept the tv off now for a few days... and either talked or listened to music.

Around the house... DH is working on a couple projects, I am working on training Pumpkin... and Nolli is enjoying extra Mommy-time with me!

One of my favorite things... is how most of my outdoor flowers are still blooming... we are well aware that soon we will be putting all the Summer things away and our outdoor living room will be gone for another 7 months.

A few plans for the rest of the week: working on my flexibility... and recording my pain on my knee to build a clear picture of what is happening for the doctor. (Replacement may be coming sooner than I thought.)

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

~Suzanne

Delurking Myself!

I have been around... just not posting... I am doing a ton of at-home physical therapy to help correct a bulging (leaking) disc in my thoracic spine. It's just under my shoulder blade... right where my bra strap starts. The doctor thought it was muscular... but the therapist wanted to rule out the disc first.... and it ended up being the disc. So... now that I have done the first set of exercises... I am doing step 2 and it is every hour or more if I need it. I am concentrating on my posture... and my rib cage is sore. I've even raised my monitor up a good 6 inches on the desk to help my neck so that my chin is not down.

This also means no bending forward. No lifting... and I had to downgrade my handbag. I am still also dealing with my left knee and how uncomfortable this last injection of Hyalgan has been. I am in more pain then before the first shot. I have to watch how long I stand, how I stand and how I walk. Ice is still my best friend... and we "meet" several times a day!

Nolli and Punky are doing well... they are becoming more bonded... and I am sure to give Nolli more one-on-one time with me and extra treats and car rides when possible. We are looking forward to the weekend... and being able to chill out around home. They are calling for lousy weather all weekend, so we are content to stay home and putter around here.

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Simple Womans Daybook...

FOR TODAY (August 25, 2009)...

Outside my window... it's sunny and warm... and just a little humid!

I am thinking... of the many projects I need to tend to and want to put off~

I am thankful for... good health insurance, DH's job~such as it is, and the love that we share for each other!

From the kitchen... there is pizza bread on the table... popcorn for snacks... and double-deck tacos for dinner.

I am wearing... denim shorts and a black and pink floral knit top and black flats.

I am creating... physical therapy props... rolled towels in different configurations to help me with my posture and being able to sit properly.

I am going... to the pharmacy later. (Always... the pharmacy!)

I am reading... nothing... got any suggestions?

I am hoping... for Pumpkin to figure out what going outside means soon!

I am hearing... DH working on projects, the tv in the background and just a few cars going by.

Around the house... there is laundry to do (always!) There is a little light housekeeping to be done.

One of my favorite things... was having DH at my p/t appointment today to reiterate what I am feeling and to learn what needs to be done to help me with my posture and shoulder issues.

A few plans for the rest of the week: to maintain my physical therapy program and gain strength.

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

~Suzanne

Sweet Sunday Love

I had a very rough night last night... I went to bed feeling ill... and was up and down during the night. When I finally woke up this morning after getting some sleep, DH had come into the bedroom and told me that I was not going to church this morning. He was very right... I wasn't moving all that well. My legs were hurting and my knees (left) were screaming.

DH did make me breakfast... yummy french toast, pepper bacon and fried eggs. It was so good. And I did share with Nolli-dog. (I cannot not share bacon with him! I did give some to Pumpkin as well.) We went back to bed for a while as I elevated and iced my knee. I brought Pumpkin with us... she's learning how to chill... (just a little, lol!) and we worked on a couple of cross word puzzles. Once we finished, I got showered, and we decided to take a drive.

We went down the country road that I wanted to explore with DH... showed him where I had found one fishing hole... and we made our way home. We drove 60 miles of back roads and made a huge loop around Sugarloaf Mountain. It was so fun... and we discovered a great park as well... one that we will probably go and visit again before the end of Fall... don't think we will hit it before end of Summer.

We stopped and picked up some bread and cheese and salami... and had a great little picnic. It was divine! We enjoyed the sunshine and each other's company... it's all about the simple things to us!

We are now home... and doing a few chores. DH is such a help when it comes to some of the things I use to do alone... he flipped the mattress for me... and vacuumed under and behind the bed. He's going to start a load of laundry for me as well. (He told me that he understands that I cannot do it by myself anymore. That I do need help with some basic chores these days.) I am growing concerned as I had great hopes for this injection series... and it's helped my right knee... but my left knee is still in so much pain and is so stiff that I have trouble walking if it's not braced. The doctor told me that I don't need the brace... but I do so much better with it.

That's pretty much what our day has been... just enjoying the simple things... helping each other, and being a family. That's Sweet Sunday Love!

Thanks for reading.. be blessed!
~Suzanne